Torticollis  refers to a condition of neck stiffness caused by muscles that are unable to relax.  The head turns and tilts to one side and the chin points toward the opposite.  Sometimes one shoulder is held in a raised position due to the contraction of muscles that cross from the neck to the shoulder. The muscle contraction may be constant or intermittent.

• Genetic defect
• Infant's position during pregnancy or delivery
• Head or neck injury
• Infection in neck muscles or bones
• Damage or failure of the nervous system
• Inner ear or eye problems
• Deformities of the bones or muscles in the neck
• Tumors of the head or neck
• Arthritis of the neck
• Use of certain medications

• Sex: female
• Age: Children under age 10
• Age: Adults aged 30-60 years
• Family member with torticollis or similar disorders

• Rotation and tilting of the head to one side
• Shortening of neck muscles on one side, possibly present at birth
• Stiffness of neck muscles
• Painful spasms of neck and upper back muscles
• Limited range of motion of the head and neck
• Headache
• Flattening of the back of head on one side (in infants)
• Fussy behavior in infants when on their tummy if they are unable to lift or turn their head
• Hip dysplasia (in infants)

• X-rays
• CT scan
• MRI scan

PEDIATRIC CARE:

• Range of motion exercises
• Massage instructions
• Positioning ideas

ADULT CARE:

• Dystonia Medical Research Foundation

http://www.dystonia-foundation.org

• National Spasmodic Torticollis Association

http://www.torticollis.org

• The College of Family Physicians of Canada

http://www.cfpc.ca

• Health Canada

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

• Cervical dystonia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:  http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed Updated August 29, 2012. Accessed October 8, 2013.
• Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis). Dystonia Medical Research Foundation website. Available at:  http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/pages/cervical_dystonia_more_info/46.php Accessed October 8, 2013.
• Collins A, Jankovic J. Botulinum toxin injection for congenital muscular torticollis presenting in children and adults. Neurology. 2006;67:1083-1085.
• Corrado G, Fossati C, et al. Irritable oesophagus: A new cause of Sandifer's syndrome. Acta Paediatr. 2006;95:1509-1510.
• Dystonias fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at:  http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/dystonias/detail_dystonias.htm Updated July 2, 2013. Accessed October 8, 2013.
• Herman MJ. Torticollis in infants and children: common and unusual causes. Instr Course Lect. 2006;55:647-653.
• Hoehn KS, Capouya JD, et al. Lemierre-like syndrome caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus complicated by hemorrhagic pericarditis. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2010;11(3):e32-5.
• Preto TE, Dalvi A, et al. A prospective blinded evaluation of deep brain stimulation for the treatment of secondary dystonia and primary torticollis syndromes. J Neurosurg. 2008;109:405-409.