Torticollis is a disease in which there is a forced deviation of the neck in one direction. Although the disease is most often diagnosed in children, it can affect adults as well. In each of these cases, the causes of the disease are completely different. What are the other symptoms of the disease? Is it possible to cure it? What is the rehabilitation of patients?

Vertigo(curvature of the neck) is a disease whose essence is a defect of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on one side of the body, which results in a painful tilt of the head to the side and its twisting in the opposite direction, looking slightly upwards. Left-sided torticollis has the neck bent to the left and the head bent to the right, and for right-sided torticollis, the neck is bent to the right and the head is bent to the left, the latter being more common. The consequence of torticollis is stretching and tightening of the muscle on one side of the neck, while on the other side the same muscle is contracted and weakened.

Vertigo: types and causes

  • Congenital spine

The cause of congenital torticollis of muscular origin is most often a perinatal trauma in the neck area, resulting from the passage of a child through the genital tract, or an incorrect position of the child's head in the mother's womb. In turn, congenital torticollis of bone origin may result from the presence of malformations within the skeleton or changes in the structure of the vertebrae in the course of Klippel-Feil disease.

  • Vertebrae of the neck acquired

The acquired form of torticollis is most often the result of inflammation, which includes abscesses, inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck, tonsillitis and mastoiditis, as well as rheumatic diseases or discopathy. The disease may also be caused by an atypical intervertebral disc hernia or bone subluxation. Sudden active and passive movements of the neck, as well as incorrect posture (e.g. bad head position during sleep) can also cause torticollis. Other causes of neck curvature may be damage to the cervical vertebrae, flaccid paralysis, and even defects in the organ of vision, hearing or disturbances in the nervous system. Bone marrow inflammation and cancerous tumors can also contributeto the development of the disease.

However, in most cases, the cause of the curvature of the neck remains unknown. It is then said about idiopathic torticollis.

Vertigo: Symptoms

The main symptom is tilting the head to the side and turning it to the opposite side, with the gaze slightly upward. Accompany it:

  • Inability to move my head normally
  • neck pain or stiffness
  • headache
  • swollen neck muscles
  • opening the chin to one side

In children, torticollis can also be accompanied by the lifting of one arm towards the contracted muscles of the neck. As the disease progresses, the deformity worsens. The face on the contracted side becomes smaller, the nose tilts towards the affected side, the angles of the eyes and ears go down, and the eye itself appears smaller and of a different shape. There is also a deformation of the skeletal system: deformation of the skull and incorrect bite occur. In the cervical spine, a scoliosis arises directed towards the he althy side.

Vertebrae: diagnosis

The basic tests carried out in order to diagnose torticollis include: an electromyogram (EMG), the purpose of which is to measure the electrical activity in muscles. Thanks to this, it is possible to determine which muscle parts are affected by the disease. X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging may also be helpful.

Important

How to care for the posture of a child with torticollis?

1. A child with torticollis should turn their heads towards the contracted muscle. Keep this in mind when placing your baby's crib (it should stand close to a light source to attract the baby's attention) and hanging toys over the baby's bed or stroller.

2. When you put your child to sleep, place them on their backs with their head placed between e.g. bags or other objects that will stabilize the collarbones and prevent the shoulders from lifting.

3. When feeding a baby, the bottle or breast should be placed on the side of the muscle contracture.

Vertebrae: treatment

Exercises to stretch the neck muscles play an important role in the treatment of congenital torticollis. If the rehabilitation fails, as a last resort, the defect can be corrected with the help of surgical procedures, which include, inter alia, on extending the muscles of the neck, cutting nerves or muscles, or surgical fusion of pathological vertebrae.

The treatment of acquired torticollis is based on the treatment of the underlying cause. The elements of therapy are also:

  • warm compresses
  • massages
  • physical therapy (irradiation with the Sollux lamp, Bioptron, or laser therapy)
  • rail
  • muscle stretching exercises
  • neck bracing apparatus

Recently, an element of physiotherapy is the so-called kinesiotaping, which involves sticking special tapes to relax or strengthen the muscles.

Pharmacological treatment is also used, incl. muscle relaxants, drugs used to treat tremors in Parkinson's disease, botulinum toxin ( although some doctors do not recommend this method due to its high cost and low effects), and painkillers.

Important

Which positions cannot be taken by a child with torticollis?

The child shouldn't:

  • lie on your back with a pillow under your head
  • sitting by propping up with pillows
  • lie on your stomach with the roller under your chest and your head tilted back
  • mother should not carry her baby with her head in a vertical position. Place the child on the side opposite the torticollis and rest its head on the forearm of the person holding it

Category:

Spine, bones, joints