Table of contents
Expand All Topics
Congenital muscular torticollis
What's new
Updated 2024 APTA guidelines for the diagnosis and management of congenital muscular torticollis .
Background
Overview
Definition
Congenital muscular torticollis is a benign congenital musculoskeletal disorder characterized by unilateral shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle leading to ipsilateral head tilt and contralateral rotation of the face and chin.
1
Pathophysiology
The exact cause of congenital muscular torticollis is unknown. Several theories have been proposed including intrauterine crowding, muscle trauma during a difficult delivery, soft tissue compression leading to compartment syndrome, and congenital abnormalities of soft tissue differentiation within the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
1
Epidemiology
The incidence of congenital muscular torticollis ranges from 0.3% and 2%.
2
Risk factors
Risk factors include breech presentation, prolonged labor, and difficult birth. Associated conditions may include developmental dysplasia of hip and plagiocephaly.
3
4
Disease course
Clinical manifestations include ipsilateral head tilt and contralateral rotation of the face and chin, plagiocephaly, palpable pseudotumor, and tightness of the muscle. Untreated congenital muscular torticollis in infancy may lead to craniofacial growth deformity in adults.
1
Prognosis and risk of recurrence
Congenital muscular torticollis is not associated with increased mortality.
5
Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of congenital muscular torticollis are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA 2024).
1
2
3
4
5
6