Prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Infants With Congenital Muscular Torticollis: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Clinical experience suggests that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs commonly in infants with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). However, this is an understudied topic and prospective studies are absent. We determine the prevalence of GERD in infants with CMT, comparing clinical characteristics between CMT infants with and without GERD, and identifying infants with potentially undiagnosed GERD.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of 155 infants with CMT younger than 12 months with and without GERD was evaluated by pediatric physical therapists.

Results: GERD prevalence was 30.3%, including 6 (3.9%) infants with undiagnosed GERD. Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in CMT infants with and without GERD.

Conclusions: This is the first prospective cohort study determining the prevalence of GERD in infants referred for evaluation of CMT. Further prospective studies are needed to determine whether early intervention and treatment of GERD improves outcomes in infants with CMT (see Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/PPT/A369).