Congenital muscular torticollis in children: distribution, treatment duration and out come.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the proportion of left and right congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) in both genders and age groups of the patients as well as to evaluate the duration of physical therapy and treatment outcome in observed population.

Methods: In our study, 980 children with CMT without hematoma were treated at University children's Hospital of Belgrade (Serbia). They were divided into 2 groups: group with left torticollis and group with right torticollis. Boys and girls were separately evaluated. Patients were classified into 5 age groups: group of children less than one month of life, group above one to 3 months, group above 3 months to 6 months, group above 6 months to 12 months and group of children above 12 months of life. Optimal time for physical therapy was analyzed in every age group.

Results: We diagnosed 496 torticollis in boys and 484 torticollis in girls. There were 458 children with left torticollis and 522 children with right torticollis. In group of children less than one month of life median duration of physical therapy was 1.5+/-0.3 months, in group above one to 3 months of life 5.9+/-0.6, in group above 3 to 6 months 7.2+/-0.6, in group above 6 to 12 months 9.8+/-0.6 and in group of children above 12 months of life 10.3+/-0.8 months.

Conclusion: Right torticollis is frequent in both genders and age groups. Younger children have lower treatment duration and better treatment outcome. Boys have longer treatment duration and not significantly better treatment outcome.