The Conservative Treatment of Congenital Torticollis
10.4055/jkoa.1972.7.3.312
- Author:
Chung Nam KANG
;
Dong Hae KIM
;
Ki Hong CHOI
- Publication Type:Original Article
- MeSH:
Aged;
Congenital Abnormalities;
Exercise;
Female;
Humans;
Incidence;
Infant;
Male;
Mothers;
Neck;
Physical Therapists;
Torticollis;
Uterus
- From:The Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
1972;7(3):312-318
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The analysis of 48 infants of congenital torticollis and the result of their conservative treatment are reported. The abnormalities of their neck were noticed by mothers within three months of infant life but mostly at three to four weeks. The ratio of male to female was 9:7 and incidence of right and left was 30 to 18. The mass located mostly(50%) at middle third of the sternocleidomastoid muscle belly. The prominence of incidence were noticed on the abnormality of fetal position in the uterus, mode of delivery and also on the baby of elderly primipara. About 67% of cases were breech(46%) and transverse(21%) position prenatally and 67% were delivered by forceps(41.7%), vacum and induction(12.5%each). The age of mother at delivery has close relationship between congenital torticollis with about two third of them are born of 29–34 year old mother and primipara infants were 61%. For the treatment, daily stretch exercises of affected sternocleidomastoid muscle was done by physical therapist for 20–30 times in two separate session. The effect can be noticed by the gradual correction of rotation deformity first and then the mass become soften and smaller. The next change is the correction of deviation deformity but the mass remain last. However, the mass remaining one fourth of original size was absorbed spontaneously without further treatment. The result of complete cure in ten weeks of treatment were 43(90%) out of 48 patients and the remianing five cases required for 15 weeks of treatment. In conclusion the congenital torticollis can be treated effectively by stretch exercises when it began within three months of age of the patient. A hundred per cent effect of cure may be obtained in ten weeks of treatment in case of initial treatment is begin within four weeks of age and required for 15 weeks of treatment on 4–12 weeks old infants.
