Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
Author Spotlight: Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Movement Observation in Cerebral Palsy
Published on: August 9, 2024
Torticollis in children: an alert symptom not to be turned away
Abdulfettah Tumturk1, Guldemet Kaya Ozcora, Ayse Kacar Bayram
1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey, fettahtumturk@yahoo.com.
Insights
Torticollis in children can stem from various conditions, ranging from benign to severe. Early diagnosis through thorough physical exams and imaging is crucial for identifying underlying diseases and improving outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Torticollis, a common condition in children, presents with the head tilted to one side.
- The underlying causes can vary significantly, necessitating a comprehensive diagnostic approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the spectrum of underlying diseases in children presenting with torticollis.
- To evaluate the clinical features associated with pediatric torticollis.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 20 children diagnosed with torticollis over a two-year period.
- Clinical evaluation and diagnostic workup including imaging.
Main Results:
- Craniospinal pathologies were the most frequent serious cause (8/20), including tumors and malformations.
- Other causes included osseous (5/20), muscular (2/20), and ocular (1/20) origins, alongside syndromes and infections.
- Treatment varied, with surgery, medical therapy, and physiotherapy employed based on the underlying diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Torticollis in children can indicate a wide range of conditions, from benign to life-threatening.
- A comprehensive physical examination and prompt imaging are essential for diagnosing serious underlying pathologies, especially with neurological symptoms.
- Increased clinician awareness is vital for early detection and management to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Purpose:
The aim of this study is to investigate the spectrum of underlying disease in children with torticollis.
Methods:
We investigated the spectrum of underlying disease and to evaluate the clinical features of the children presented with torticollis in the last 2 years.
Results:
Of the 20 children (13 girls and 7 boys with the mean age of 8 years, ranging 2 months-12 years), eight of them have craniospinal pathologies (cerebellar tumors in three, exophytic brain stem glioma, eosinophilic granuloma of C2 vertebra, neuroenteric cyst of the spinal cord, Chiari type 3 malformation, arachnoid cysts causing brainstem compression, and cerebellar empyema), followed by osseous origin in five (congenital vertebral anomalies including hemivertebrae, blocked vertebra, and segmentation anomalies), two muscular torticollis (soft tissue inflammation due to subclavian artery catheterization, myositis ossificans with sternocleidomastoid muscle atrophy), and ocular (congenital cataract and microphthalmia), Sandifer syndrome, paroxysmal torticollis, retropharyngeal abscess each in one patients were detected. Ten patients underwent surgery; two patients received medical therapy for reflux and benign paroxysmal torticollis; and one patient with torticollis due to muscle spasm and soft tissue inflammation was treated with physiotherapy.
Conclusions:
Various underlying disorders from relatively benign to life-threatening conditions may present with torticollis. The first step should be always a careful and complete physical examination, which must include all systems. Imaging must be performed for ruling out underlying life-threatening diseases in children with torticollis, particularly, if acquired neurological symptoms exist. Besides craniospinal tumors, ophthalmological problems and central nervous system infections should also be kept in mind. Moreover, early diagnosis of these disorders will reduce mortality and morbidity. Therefore, alertness of clinicians in pediatric and pediatric neurosurgery practice must be increased about this alert symptom.
More Related Videos
07:11Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
07:24Using Eye-tracking to Assess the Relative Importance of Visual and Vestibular Input to Subcortical Motion Processing in the Roll Plane
Published on: August 22, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:19Muscles that Move the Head
The bilateral sternocleidomastoid, or SCM, and the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles are significant head flexors. The SCM muscles originate at the sternum and clavicle and attach to the mastoid process of the temporal bone. The SCM contracts bilaterally to bend the head forward, whereas...
01:28Articulations of the Vertebral Column
01:22Cranial Nerves: Types Part II
Facial Nerve (Cranial Nerve VII)
Cranial nerve VII, or the facial nerve,...
01:26Muscles of the Anterior Neck
01:16Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature
Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form...
01:22Trachea
Anatomical Features:
Location: About half of the trachea is situated in the neck, anterior to the esophagus, and extends from the larynx (at the level of...