Patient's question:
My baby is four months old. She has right torticollis with a large lump. A few days ago, I noticed that her right arm is a bit bigger than her left one. Both arms move normally, but her right arm is still not as flexible as her left one. I am very worried and scared! What could be the reason for this? What should I do?Doctor's answer:
Hello. Mom; the baby's symptoms resemble congenital muscular torticollis. Of course, it's not certain. Go to the hospital and let the doctor make the decision. Congenital muscular torticollis rarely recovers naturally. It should be treated as early as possible upon discovery. Most patients come to the clinic between 4 to 6 months of age. At this time, the muscle fibers on the affected side of the sternocleidomastoid muscle have degenerated. Methods such as massage, neck rotation exercises, and passive traction can be used. Due to pain, neither the child nor the family can persist with these treatments long-term, often resulting in poor outcomes. Therefore, we advocate early surgery to relieve contracture, and the earlier, the better. If the torticollis is severe, surgery should be performed between 4 to 6 months of age, without waiting until after the age of 1 to undergo surgical treatment. This is because as the child grows older, the asymmetry of the neck and face gradually worsens, and bones can also become deformed.