What is Torticollis?

Torticollis, also known as wryneck, happens when the head and neck are tilted or turned in an unusual way. Usually, the head leans toward one shoulder while the chin points toward the other.

Torticollis occurs when neck muscles, especially the sternocleidomastoid, tighten or contract involuntarily. Some people are born with it because of how they were positioned before birth, while others get it later from injuries, infections, or nerve issues.

How common is torticollis?

Torticollis can happen at any age. In newborns, congenital muscular torticollis is fairly common, affecting about 0.3% to 2% of babies. It often relates to a tough delivery or not enough space in the womb.

Acquired torticollis can show up in children or adults at any age. One long-term type, called cervical dystonia or spasmodic torticollis, usually starts in adults between 30 and 50 years old. It is rare, affecting about 30 in every 100,000 people worldwide, and is more common in women.

What are the symptoms of torticollis?

The most obvious sign is how the head looks, but torticollis can also cause other muscle and nerve symptoms:

• Abnormal Head Posture: The head tilts distinctly toward one side while the chin rotates toward the opposite side.
• Limited Range of Motion: Difficulty or an inability to turn the head smoothly from side to side or look up and down.
• Neck Pain and Stiffness: Chronic soreness, tension, and a tight, pulling sensation in the neck muscles.
• Muscular Hypertrophy: The affected neck muscle may appear noticeably larger, swollen, or feel like a hard, tight band of tissue.
• Tremors or Jerking: In adult-onset neurological cases, the head may shake, tilt, or jerk involuntarily due to muscle spasms.
• Asymmetry: In infants, prolonged unmanaged tilting can lead to a flattening of one side of the head or minor facial asymmetry.

What causes Torticollis?

The causes of torticollis depend on whether it starts at birth or develops later in life:

• Congenital Causes: This usually happens if the sternocleidomastoid muscle gets stretched or hurt during a breech or tough delivery, which can cause bleeding and later scarring or shortening of the muscle.
• Trauma and Musculoskeletal Strain: Small injuries to the neck, whiplash from car accidents, or sleeping in a bad position can cause sudden muscle spasms.
• Infections: Severe inflammation in the throat, upper respiratory tract, or lymph nodes can irritate nearby nerves and cause reactive muscle tightening.
• Neurological Disorders (Cervical Dystonia): Problems in the part of the brain that controls movement can cause long-lasting, uncontrollable muscle contractions.
• Medication Side Effects: Some psychiatric or anti-nausea medicines can cause sudden, painful neck spasms called a dystonic reaction.

What are the complications of torticollis?

If torticollis remains unmanaged for a long period, it can result in lasting physical alterations and functional limitations:

• Permanent Muscle Fibrosis: Over time, a chronically contracted muscle can develop permanent scar tissue, leading to a permanent restriction of head movement.
• Plagiocephaly: In infants, keeping the head turned to one side causes persistent pressure on the soft skull bones, resulting in a flat spot on the head.
• Cervical Spine Degeneration: Abnormal, uneven forces placed on the neck spine can accelerate osteoarthritis and lead to pinched nerves or slipped discs.
• Chronic Pain and Fatigue: Constant, unrelenting muscle spasms require immense physical energy and lead to chronic, debilitating musculoskeletal pain.

How do doctors diagnose torticollis?

A physician can generally detect torticollis during a standard physical examination by observing the posture of the head and feeling the neck muscles for tightness or localized masses. To understand the exact cause, a neurologist or pediatrician will use targeted tests:

• X-rays of the Cervical Spine: Performed to rule out any bony abnormalities, fractures, or structural misalignments in the neck vertebrae.
• Ultrasound Scan: Frequently used in infants to take detailed images of the neck muscle tissue to check for scarring or a localized muscular hematoma.
• CT or MRI Scan: Ordered if a deeper neurological issue, spinal cord compression, tumor, or deep tissue infection is suspected.
• Electromyography: To evaluate the electrical activity within the neck muscles and pinpoint exactly which nerves are firing abnormally.

How is torticollis treated?

The best treatment depends on your age and what is causing the neck muscle problem:

• Physical Therapy: Stretching exercises are the gold standard treatment, particularly for infants. Gently stretching the shortened neck muscle daily resolves over 90% of congenital cases within the first year of life.
• Botulinum Toxin Injections: For adult neurological torticollis (cervical dystonia), injecting botulinum toxin directly into the overactive muscles blocks nerve signals, safely relaxing the muscle for several months at a time.
• Medications: Muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory medications, or anticholinergic drugs help decrease the severity of painful spasms.
• Orthotic Braces or Helmets: Special collars can help hold the head in alignment, and cranial remodeling helmets can correct skull flattening in infants.
• Surgery: In rare, severe cases that do not respond to therapies, a surgeon can cut or lengthen the tight muscle or selectively sever the nerves causing the spasms.

What can I expect if I have torticollis?

For babies born with muscular torticollis, the outlook is excellent if stretching starts early. Most recover fully, move their necks normally, and have no long-term problems.

For adults with sudden torticollis from a minor strain or posture problem, symptoms usually go away in a few days or weeks with rest and heat. For long-term cervical dystonia, the condition often lasts, but regular botulinum toxin shots and physical therapy can keep symptoms under control for many years.

How do I take care of myself?

If you have adult-acquired torticollis, home care can help you feel better. Using heat packs or a warm cloth on tight neck muscles can relax spasms. Cold packs can help with sharp pain after an injury.

Do gentle, easy stretching exercises every day to keep your neck flexible. Avoid sudden or jerky movements that could hurt the muscle again. Using a supportive chair at home and work can also take pressure off your neck.

Can torticollis be prevented?

You cannot prevent congenital torticollis or neurological dystonias, but you can often avoid acquired torticollis by taking care of your muscles and joints. Make sure your workspace is set up so your computer screen is at eye level, which helps you avoid twisting or straining your neck.

Use pillows that keep your spine straight while you sleep, and do not hold your phone between your ear and shoulder. Always stretch and warm up safely before heavy exercise or sports.

When should I see my doctor?

You should see a doctor if you or your child experience a persistent tilt or twist in the neck that does not improve within a couple of days. Seek urgent medical attention if the neck spasms develop rapidly after a head or neck injury, or if the physical tightness is accompanied by:

• Difficulty swallowing, speaking, or breathing.
• Numbness, tingling, or shooting pain radiating down your arms or into your fingers.
• Signs of a severe infection, such as a high fever, severe throat pain, or swollen, tender jaw glands.
• Involuntary muscle spasms spreading to other parts of your face or body.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Torticollis Treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Torticollis treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced neurologists and orthopedic specialists who provide accurate diagnosis and both non-surgical and surgical treatment options including botulinum toxin therapy, physiotherapy, and comprehensive cervical muscle rehabilitation procedures. Our Neurology and Orthopedics team has decades of experience in successfully treating Torticollis in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Torticollis Treatment in Lucknow, India:

 

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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