The Conservative Treatment of Congenital Torticollis

The analysis of 100 patients of cogenital 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 3:2 and incidence of right and left was 68 to 32. 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. 54 cases were breech and 13 cases were transverse position prenatally and 73 cases were delivered by forceps, vacuum and induction. The age of mother at delivery has close relationship between congenital torticollis with 47cases of them are born of 29~34 year old mother and primipara infants were 67cases. For the treatment, daily stretch exercises of affected sternocleidomastoid muscle were 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 becomes soften and smaller. The next change is the correction of deviation deformity and the mass absorption. The result of complete cure in 10 weeks of treatment were 76 cases out of 100 patients. The remaining 21 cases required for 15 weeks of treatment and three cases were discontinued treatment by their parents. 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 percent effect of cure may be obtained in 10 weeks of treatment in case of initial treatment is begun within four weeks of age and required for about 15 weeks of treatment on 4~12 weeks old infant.