Abstract
During a study of 6756 consecutive newborn infants, congenital sternomastoid torticollis (CST) was observed in association with plagiocephaly (P<<0.001), facial deformities (P<0.05), ipselateral mandibular asymmetry (P<<0.001), postural scoliosis (P<<0.001) and talipes (P<0.001). A similar pattern of maternal pregnancy characteristics (eg. primiparity, oligohydramnios, breech presentation) was observed as is encountered in association with other congenital postural deformities. Clinical and pathological data collected over a 14 year period suggests that CST is due to prenatal fibrosis and shortening of the muscle. This may be caused by ischaemia secondary to venous occlusion due to persistant lateral flexion and rotation of the neck before birth. Trauma to the shortened muscle during delivery may be responsible for secondary damage in some cases.
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Dunn, P. NEONATAL TOPICS: CONGENITAL STERNOMASTOID TORTICOLLIS: AN INTRAUTERINE POSTURAL DEFORMITY. Pediatr Res 8, 139 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197402000-00077
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197402000-00077