CONGENITAL MUSCULAR TORTICOLLIS IN YOUNG ADULTS. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND RESOLUTION OF A CASE WITH BIPOLAR STERNOCLEIDOMASTOID TENOTOMY

Abstract

Congenital muscular torticollis (TMC) is a unilateral contraction of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (ECM) of prenatal origin, an ultrasound study may reveal fibrosis of the ECM muscle. In the X-ray it can be difficult to interpret due to bone distortion, it is accompanied by facial deformities and gaze inclination, and can cause skeletal changes and pain, which is why it must be addressed, even in adult patients; in the pre-pubertal patient there may be recurrence after surgery.
We present a brief review of the different surgical options in the treatment of congenital torticollis in adult patients and report a case successfully treated with bipolar ECM release in a young adult. A 13-year-old female patient who presents shortening of the ECM muscle on the right side with head tilt to the same side and chin deviation to the left side, condition since birth, the ROM for left lateral tilt is 30° . Bipolar muscle release was performed under general anesthesia. The post-surgical, functional and aesthetic results were satisfactory.