Patient's question:
My baby is four and a half months old. She has right torticollis with a large lump. A few days ago, I noticed that her right arm is a bit fatter than her left one. Both arms move normally, but her right arm is still not as flexible as her left one. I'm very worried and scared! Could anyone please tell me what could be the reason? 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 determination. Congenital muscular torticollis rarely resolves naturally, and it should be treated as early as possible upon discovery. Most children come to the clinic between 4 to 6 months of age, at which point the muscle fibers on the affected side of the sternocleidomastoid muscle have degenerated. Methods such as massage, head turning exercises, and passive traction can be used. Due to pain, both the child and the family often cannot persist with these treatments for a long time, resulting in poor outcomes. Therefore, we advocate for 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, rather than waiting until after the child is 1 year old. This is because as the child grows older, the asymmetry of the neck and face gradually worsens, and the bones can also become deformed.