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 fatter than her left one. Both arms move normally, but her right arm is still not as flexible as her left. I'm very worried and scared! Could anyone please tell me 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, so you should go to the hospital and let the doctor make the diagnosis. Congenital muscular torticollis rarely heals naturally, and treatment should be started as early as possible upon discovery. Most children are brought in for treatment 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, neck turning exercises, and passive traction can be used. Due to pain, both the child and the family often cannot adhere to these treatments long-term, resulting in poor outcomes. Therefore, we advocate for early surgery to release the 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.