Infant Torticollis (Twisted Neck)

Causes Of Infant Torticollis

Acquired torticollis can be caused by an injury at birth — for example, when a physician improperly uses forceps. Nonetheless, although such an injury occurred during birth, its effects may not be apparent until months later.

Viral infections, such as upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), are also common causes of acquired torticollis in infants. Further, a baby who experiences inflammation of the muscles, nerves, or vertebral synovia in the neck may develop acquired torticollis. Other causes include awkward sleeping positions, reaction to medications, and other health conditions like gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) and vision problems.

Congenital infant torticollis is primarily caused by an abnormal fetal position in the womb. During pregnancy appointments, your doctor should immediately check the baby’s position to identify a concern. This aspect should also be examined regularly during labor to act accordingly to protect you and your baby.

If you are not closely monitored before and during birth, your baby may be “crowded” in the uterus — their moving parts, such as the legs, will have less room. This can put more pressure on the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), which allows the neck to bend and the head to tilt or turn. This pressure can cause the SCM to tighten, resulting in congenital torticollis.

Other causes of congenital torticollis include injury, Klippel–Feil syndrome (the abnormal fusion of any two of the seven bones in the neck), and a congenital absence of the SCM, among others.

Symptoms Of Infant Torticollis

Infant neck torticollis is typically not painful. Thus, it’s vital to know the signs to look out for because your child may not keep you up all night crying, notifying you there is a problem. 

Here are common torticollis infant symptoms:

• The baby’s head tilts on one side — This may be difficult to notice when your child is younger, as they are always on their back. But some signs can help you realize your child is having difficulty turning their neck. For instance, if they only want to breastfeed on one side, they prefer using one hand when reaching for things, or their eyes don’t follow you when you move.
• Severe pain — This is commonly reported among babies with acquired torticollis. Your child may constantly cry if they have this type of torticollis. Although it is not always painful, your child may cry from the frustration of being unable to move their head as much as they want.
• Limited movement of their neck and head
• Tight or stiff neck muscles
• A lump or knot on your baby’s neck muscles
• One shoulder is higher than the other
• Uneven facial features
• Head tremors in acquired infant torticollis

If you notice any of these symptoms, you should visit a doctor who will then conduct a physical examination to provide a timely diagnosis.

Treatment Of Torticollis In Infants

If your child is diagnosed with infant torticollis, treatment should start immediately. A significant percentage of congenital and acquired torticollis in infants is treated using stretching exercises. A physical therapist can perform different exercises to stretch your baby’s neck muscles. They can even teach you some exercises that you can perform at home.

Additionally, it’s recommended to change your baby’s position when they are sleeping. Lay them on the back and keep changing their head’s position. With time, you will notice slower movements of the head when they are awake.

When playing with your baby, move toys in the direction they can’t turn to help them practice turning.

If stretching exercises and home remedies fail to work, your doctor can refer you to a specialist to discover if there is an underlying issue that’s causing the tilting of the baby’s head and, in turn, treat it. For instance, if the titling stems from a vision problem, this issue needs to be solved by a specialist first before other treatment options are implemented.

While it’s usually the last resort, surgery can be required to treat a baby with torticollis. An orthopedic surgeon can lengthen your child’s shortened/tightened SCM. Even when your child needs surgery, it may be avoided until they reach a certain age. 

Possible Complications Of Infant Torticollis

If your child is not treated or treated adequately, infant torticollis can lead to other significant complications. These include a deformity on the face, long-term musculoskeletal abnormalities, and plagiocephaly (the baby develops a flat spot on one side of the head or the whole back of the head).

Delayed diagnosis is one of the leading factors that contribute to these possible complications. Doctors are required to employ different diagnostic tests to rule out other pathologies and identify torticollis earlier. If a doctor fails to do this, your baby may not start treatment earlier or at all, increasing the risks of the aforementioned complications and more.

Colorado Birth Injury Attorneys

The birth of your child should be a happy moment. However, this may not be the feeling you experience when you notice your child has limited neck movement. A doctor’s mistake during birth can cause infant torticollis, and a late diagnosis can worsen it. Our Colorado birth injury lawyer can give you access to a reputable medical expert to investigate your case and provide adequate information to strengthen your claim.

Sources:

Congenital Muscular Torticollis (Twisted Neck). (n.d.).

Marks, J. (2023). What Is Torticollis?

Torticollis. (n.d.).