[Torticollis in a group of strabismic patients in Cameroon]

Our aim was to study the characteristics of torticollis in a group of strabismic patients in Cameroon.

This was a prospective study carried out in the ophthalmology service of the General Hospital, Douala from January 1991 to December 2004. All strabismic patients followed up in our service were included in this study and they all had a complete strabologic and ophthalmological examination. Torticollis was analysed using photographs and classified according to its configuration, degree and variability.

We examined 379 strabismic patients of which 227 were divergent (59.9%) and 152 convergent (40.1%). We found 166 cases of torticollis (43.8%). This pathology was found in 52.6% of patients with esotropia versus 37.9% in exotropia. Torticollis was classified as severe in 14.5% of patients, moderate in 45.8% and mild in 39.7%. Two out of three early esotropias had alternating torticollis. In congenital monophthalmus syndrome, torticollis was found in 68.4% of cases and in 100% of cases with the alphabetic syndrome. Moreover 63.8% of strabismics with torticollis have astigmatism.

Torticollis in strabismic patients is a cause for concern as it is frequent and its functional consequences are severe.