What is Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis)? How Is It Treated?
Index
What is Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis)?
What are the Symptoms of Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis)?
What are the Causes of Neck Disease (Torticollis)?
What are the Types of Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis)?
How is the Diagnosis of Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis)?
Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis) Treatment
Curved neck disease, or torticollis, is a disease that usually occurs in infancy and causes the head to remain in a tilted position. It may be present at birth in infants or it may appear later for various reasons. While it can usually be treated with exercises that can be applied at home, in some cases it may be necessary to resort to other treatment methods. With this article, you can find answers to your questions about curved neck disease (torticollis), such as “is the curved neck disease genetic?”, “how old is the curved neck disease” and you can learn about the treatment of curved neck disease without surgery and the treatment of curved neck disease with surgery.
What is Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis)?
Curved neck disease is a disease that can occur as a result of a problem in the neck muscles. It can be seen at birth or later on in infancy or childhood. When seen at birth, it is called congenital torticollis. Congenital torticollis is the most common type of torticollis. It is usually painless and may go unnoticed for up to several weeks. It becomes more noticeable once your baby starts controlling his head. Torticollis that occurs later in infancy or childhood is called acquired torticollis. Acquired torticollis may occur in the first 4 to 6 months or later.
What are the Symptoms of Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis)?
Having information about the symptoms of crooked neck disease is important for recognizing and diagnosing the disease. Torticollis may also show different symptoms depending on its types. Common and different symptoms for congenital and acquired torticollis are as follows:
The head is bent. The head is tilted on its side with the chin facing the opposite shoulder. The right side is affected in 75% of babies with torticollis.
Head and neck movement may be limited. For this reason, the head may not be able to easily move left and right, or up and down.
One of the shoulders may be positioned higher than the other.
Stiffness or tightness may be seen in the neck muscles. There may also be swelling in the neck muscles.
If your baby has torticollis, he may be watching you over his shoulder but not following you with his eyes. Because he may have difficulty in turning his head due to the limitation of movement in the neck and head.
During breastfeeding, she may want one breast more than the other and may prefer unilateral feeding.
No matter how hard he tries to get back to you, he may not be able to do it.
They may prefer to sleep in one position all the time. For this reason, flattening can be seen on the face and head. This is called “positional plagiocephaly”.
A small pea-sized lump can be seen in the neck muscles. This lump is usually not dangerous and is temporary.
Irregular and asymmetrical facial features can be seen in congenital torticollis. Irregular and asymmetrical facial features are very rare in babies with acquired torticollis. Therefore, this symptom is mostly used to distinguish congenital torticollis and acquired torticollis.
Infants and children with acquired torticollis may experience severe neck pain.
Head tremors and headaches may also be seen in infants and children with acquired torticollis problem.
What are the Causes of Neck Disease (Torticollis)?
On either side of the neck are two large muscles called the sternocleidomastoid, or SCM for short. These muscles extend from the back of the skull (behind the ear) to the breastbone (sternum) and collarbone (clavicle). With the shortening or spasm of one of these muscles, the neck tilts and the curved neck disease (torticollis) occurs. The shortening or spasm of one of these muscles can have many different causes.
There is no definitive data on genetics for congenital torticollis. The causes of congenital torticollis can be as follows:
One of the most common causes of congenital torticollis is incorrect positioning of the baby in the womb. Torticollis, which occurs as a result of incorrect positioning in the uterus, can often be accompanied by congenital hip dislocation.
A developmental problem in the SCM muscles can cause congenital torticollis.
The development of hematoma (blood collection) in the neck muscles of the baby may be the cause of congenital torticollis.
Klippel-Feil Syndrome (KFS), a rare birth defect that occurs as a result of abnormal fusion of two or more vertebrae in the neck of the spine, can also cause congenital torticollis.
Congenital torticollis may also develop as a result of abnormal thickening (fibrosis) of the baby’s muscle tissue.
Acquired torticollis can develop due to many different types of infection, injury, or another unknown cause. The causes of acquired torticollis can be as follows:
Acquired torticollis may occur due to muscle injury or inflammation. Any injury or inflammation of the SCM muscles or the trapezius muscles, a muscle that runs from the back of the neck to the back, is the most common cause of acquired torticollis in children.
Acute infections are the second most common cause of acquired torticollis in children. Infections such as viral or streptococcal pharyngitis, cervical adenitis, retropharyngeal abscess, parapharyngeal abscess, and viral upper respiratory tract infections are among the most common infections associated with torticollis.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may also be the cause of acquired torticollis.
In some vision problems such as strabismus, patients may tilt their heads to achieve a smoother image. As a result, acquired torticollis can be seen.
Acquired torticollis can be seen as a result of dystonic reaction, which is a kind of acute muscle spasm that can also be caused by some drug groups.
Sandifer Syndrome, a rare disease in which neck spasms and gastroesophageal reflux disease are seen together, may also be the cause of acquired torticollis.
Cervical spondylosis, also known as neck arthritis, is also among the reasons cited for acquired torticollis.
What are the Types of Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis)?
As mentioned above, the curved neck disease (torticollis) seen in infants and children is divided into two types depending on its congenital or subsequent development. While torticollis seen from birth is called congenital torticollis, torticollis that occurs later is called acquired torticollis.
Congenital torticollis: The most common type of torticollis, congenital torticollis, although present from birth, is usually noticed between the 6th and 8th weeks of the baby’s life, when the newborn begins to gain the ability to control head and neck movements. Congenital torticollis can be distinguished from acquired torticollis due to asymmetrical facial features.
Acquired torticollis: Unlike congenital torticollis, acquired torticollis develops later. Its development can be due to many different reasons. The most common cause is injury or inflammation of the neck muscles.
How is the Diagnosis of Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis)?
The diagnosis of torticollis can be made by a specialist doctor by examining the symptoms and using various imaging methods. To diagnose torticollis, your doctor will first perform a physical examination. With this physical examination, the head and neck region can be examined and the curvature of the neck, stiff or tense muscles can be checked. If your doctor deems it necessary, he may also want to use some imaging methods for a definitive diagnosis. Here are some imaging modalities your doctor may use to diagnose:
x-ray
Computed tomography (CT)
magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI)
Curved Neck Disease (Torticollis) Treatment
After making the diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe a course of treatment for you based on the type of torticollis, its symptoms and the severity of the condition. Congenital torticollis treatment usually includes stretching exercises and position changes. Your doctor will show you how to apply these exercises and position changes in the most correct way. If home exercises and position changes are not sufficient, physical therapy may also be required. However, you; He or she may refer you to other specialists, such as a physical therapy and rehabilitation specialist or pediatric neurologist. If the desired result is not achieved despite all these, this time surgical method, that is, surgical treatment, can be applied. The surgical treatment of curved neck disease is aimed at lengthening the SCM muscle.
Acquired torticollis treatment is aimed at correcting the cause of torticollis and relieving symptoms. The following may be used in this treatment:
Antibiotics for torticollis from injury and infection
Pain relievers and muscle relaxants
Botox application to relax stiff and tense neck muscles
Heat and massage therapy
Collar and neck straps
Physiotheraphy