Functional and cosmetic status in children treated for congenital muscular torticollis as infants

Every year, about 60 infants receive treatment for congenital muscular torticollis (CMT), at the Department of Physiotherapy. The aim of this study was to do a survey of children treated for CMT, and investigate if there was a difference between the affected and not affected side. Children born 1999-2001 treated for CMT at The Queen Silvia Children's Hospital were asked to participate in a survey. The children were evaluated once and a scoring system was used, which included functional and cosmetic results. The neck movement, endurance, elevation of the shoulder and lateral band were compared with the uninvolved side. Head tilt and craniofacial asymmetry were evaluated by the use of clinical observations and photographs. The majority (96%) had excellent/ good range of motion and excellent/ good posture (94.5%) of the head. The most notable findings were craniofacial asymmetry and asymmetry in endurance of neck muscles. The conclusion was that most children had an overall excellent or good status at time for the survey and functional problems were rare. For 45% of the children craniofacial asymmetry was still present and for 37% there was asymmetry in endurance of neck muscles. Whether asymmetric muscle endurance is an important factor has to be further examined.