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Torticollis and plagiocephaly in infancy: therapeutic strategies
L A van Vlimmeren1, P J M Helders, L N A van Adrichem
1Bernhoven Hospital, Veghel, The Netherlands.
Insights
Infantile asymmetry, including congenital muscular torticollis, positional torticollis, and plagiocephaly, requires systematic therapeutic management. A new flowchart aids in standardizing treatment approaches for these common conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Biology
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Infantile asymmetry encompasses a wide range of conditions affecting body shape, posture, and movement.
- These asymmetries can be structural or functional, presenting with localized or generalized symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and present evidence-based therapeutic strategies for common infantile asymmetries.
- Focuses on congenital muscular torticollis, positional torticollis, and plagiocephaly.
Main Methods:
- Literature review to identify current therapeutic approaches.
- Development of a flowchart to guide management decisions.
Main Results:
- Therapeutic options include physical therapy, orthotic devices (helmet treatment, Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty), and surgical interventions.
- A flowchart illustrates various treatment pathways.
Conclusions:
- Management of torticollis and plagiocephaly currently lacks uniformity.
- A systematic approach and the proposed flowchart can promote standardized therapeutic evaluation and practice.
Background:
Asymmetry in infancy is a diagnosis with a large spectrum of features, expressing an abnormal shape of parts of the body or unequal postures and movements, which might be structural and/or functional, with localized or generalized expression.
Purpose:
The purpose of the present study is to highlight different therapeutic aspects of the most occurring asymmetries in infancy: congenital muscular torticollis, positional torticollis and plagiocephaly, based on best evidence in current literature.
Results:
A flow chart is presented showing different pathways in therapeutic strategies, such as physical therapy, orthotic devices (helmet treatment and Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty) and surgery.
Conclusion:
It is concluded that there are different views towards management on torticollis and plagiocephaly. A systematic therapeutic management to evaluate these asymmetries is indicated. The presented therapeutic flow chart might serve as a basis in order to achieve uniformity in therapeutic thinking and performance.
