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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
A child with a abnormal neck posture after doing a head-over-heels
Karen de Kroon1, Willem den Boer, Feico J Halbertsma
1Department of Orthopedics, Maxima Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Traumatic torticollis in children requires immediate evaluation for spinal injury. Even mild head trauma can cause atlanto-axial subluxation, treatable conservatively if no neurological or radiological signs are present.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- Torticollis is common in children, with traumatic cases necessitating urgent assessment.
- Non-traumatic torticollis typically allows for a less urgent diagnostic approach.
- Traumatic torticollis demands prompt analysis for spinal column and spinal cord damage, irrespective of neurological findings.
Observation:
- A case report details a child experiencing atlanto-axial subluxation following mild head trauma (head-over-heels maneuver).
- This case highlights the potential for significant spinal injury from seemingly minor incidents.
- The patient presented with torticollis, indicating a need for thorough investigation.
Findings:
- Atlanto-axial subluxation can occur after mild head trauma in children.
- In cases without neurological deficits or radiological abnormalities, conservative treatment is effective.
- Conservative management includes soft collars and analgesics.
Implications:
- All children with post-traumatic torticollis warrant further diagnostic analysis.
- Early identification and conservative management can prevent complications.
- This underscores the importance of considering spinal injury in pediatric torticollis evaluations.
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