Symptoms of the disease and treatment of torticollis in a newborn

Today we will talk about the causes and symptoms of torticollis in a newborn. This disease is quite common and, by the way, most often affects girls.

The most common is right-handed torticollis. There is also a bilateral pathology. In such cases, the baby's head tilts back or leans forward. Turns to the sides are sharply limited.

Cryptochee in newborns: signs of disease

Krivosheya is a defect of the so-called "nodding" muscle. He is basically a congenital pathology. The muscle we are talking about is located on both sides of the neck and is attached by the upper part behind, below the ear, to the mastoid process, and the lower part to the collarbone. Its main function is the rotation and inclination of the head.

The presence of torticollis in the newborn leads to the fact that the baby's head is forced to tilt towards the diseased muscle and slightly turned in the opposite direction and slightly back. In severe cases, the asymmetry of the face may develop , and occasionally, mental abnormalities also join.

Causes of different types of torticollis in a newborn

It is believed that in the case when it comes to congenital krivoshee, to the vice of intrauterine development of the muscle being discussed, her injury is added at the time of birth. Because of this, a hem is formed as a result of a hemorrhage. The muscle is shortened, and visible defects in the position of the head appear, and the baby's shoulder blade is slightly raised from the patient's side.

But immediately after birth, this pathology can be detected only in 1% of cases of this disease. Subsequently, already at the age of three weeks, the affected muscle begins to lag behind in growth, and the inclination of the head becomes noticeable.

With a false curvature, there are no such changes. As a rule, such a pathology is the result of a general hypertonic muscle, in which the turns and inclinations of the head are difficult. It is treated as a neurological disease that does not lead to marked changes.

Consequences of torticollis in a newborn

The disease under discussion requires compulsory treatment, since it can lead to the development of kyphosis and early osteochondrosis in the child. Over time, by the age of seven, due to the forced position of the head, the asymmetry of the child's face may increase:

• Eye and eyebrow on the affected side will be located much lower than on the healthy one;
• The ears will vary markedly in shape and size;
• The development of the sky will be violated;
• Also, pathologies may develop in the development of the patient's ear canal.

Treatment of torticollis in newborns

Its early diagnostics is very important for the successful treatment of the disease. The main thing is to have time before the skull asymmetry is formed, for in such cases a good result is practically impossible.

Baby with a cotton-gauze "bagel" must be laid so that in a dream his head was in the correct symmetrical position. At the time of feeding the crumb is held, forcing to turn to the sore side. Recommendations for the correct laying and wearing on the hands of the baby must be strictly observed, since at this time there is a passive stretching of the shortened muscle.

With this disease, massage is especially effective, to which therapeutic gymnastics and physiotherapy are attached. Sometimes the crest is prescribed wearing a special collar or cap. As a result of correctly conducted activities, it is already possible to achieve full recovery by the first year of life.

In severe cases of disease, as well as late detection of torticollis, a plastic surgery was performed with the subsequent wearing of the cast bandage for 1.5 months.