Twisted Neck at Birth (Congenital Torticollis)

What is congenital torticollis?

Congenital torticollis is a twisted neck. It causes a baby’s head to turn to one side. It is also called wryneck.

What is the cause?

Torticollis is caused by a shortened neck muscle. Most frequently the muscle that is shortened is the one that goes across the neck from the collarbone to just behind the ear.

Doctors aren’t sure what causes the shortened neck muscle. One theory is that the muscle stretched too much when the baby’s head was delivered at birth. Severe stretching can cause bleeding into the muscle. Pressure from bleeding and swelling can damage the muscle. Scar tissue then replaces some of the muscle, making the muscle shorter.

Some other theories are that it is caused by crowding inside the uterus or a blood vessel problem.

What are the symptoms?

Your child keeps his head turned in one direction.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will examine your child.

How is it treated?

Many times children with this problem get better on their own. It can help to put them in situations where they have to use the affected muscle. For example, lay your baby in the crib so that if your baby wants to see what is going on in the room, he or she will have to turn the chin towards the shoulder of the affected side. This will stretch the muscle and help cure the problem.

Your healthcare provider may give you exercises to do with your baby to stretch and move the baby’s neck.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a physical therapist to help see how well the treatment is working. This is usually all the treatment that is needed. In rare cases, surgery may be done.

How can I take care of my child?

Do the exercises recommended by your healthcare provider.

Ask your healthcare provider:

• how long it will take your child to recover from this condition
• what activities your child should avoid
• how to take care of your child at home
• what symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if your child has them

Make sure you know when you should bring your child back for a checkup.