Congenital muscular torticollis
Congenital muscular torticollis is a condition in which
an infant's neck muscle is shortened causing the neck to twist. Congenital means
present at birth and torticollis means twisted neck. The condition is sometimes
called wryneck, fibromatosis colli of infancy, or pseudotumor of infancy.
What causes congenital muscular torticollis?
Congenital muscular torticollis may
occur following a difficult birth, especially if the infant is very large or is
delivered breech. During the delivery, if the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the
neck muscle that extends from the jawbone (mastoid) to the clavicle (collarbone)
and sternum (breastbone), is stretched or pulled, it may tear, causing bleeding
and bruising within the muscle.
The injured muscle develops fibrosis (scar tissue) which causes the muscle to
shorten and tighten, pulling the infant's head to one side. The fibrosis forms a
mass or lump that sometimes can be felt on the side of the neck.
Occasionally, congenital muscular torticollis occurs because of a defect in
the development of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, or because of an abnormal
fetal position in the uterus.
The symptoms
Congenital muscular torticollis may be visible at birth or
it may not become evident until several weeks later. The following are the most
common symptoms of congenital muscular torticollis. However, each child may
experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
- Tilting of the infant's head to one side
- The infant's chin turns toward the opposite side
- Firm, small, one to two centimeter mass in the middle of the
sternocleidomastoid muscle
The symptoms of congenital muscular torticollis may resemble other neck
masses or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for a
diagnosis.