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Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
Torticollis in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome
Craig V Towers1, Amber Knapper2, Mark Gaylord2
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, TN, USA. ctowers@utmck.edu.
Objective:
To report the incidence of torticollis diagnosed in infants treated for neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and compare neonates with and without torticollis.
Study Design:
This prospective cohort study reports on infants examined at 1-4 months of age. Numerous obstetrical/newborn factors and other drugs used during gestation were compared.
Results:
Of 501 neonates treated for NAS, 421 (84%) were seen for follow-up. Of these, 105 (24.9%) were diagnosed with torticollis. The only significant obstetrical/newborn factor identified was a lower rate if the parents were the primary caregiver after hospital discharge. Of the 105 cases, 88 (84%) were right-sided and 17 (16%) were left-sided.
Conclusions:
These data demonstrate that torticollis is a common diagnosis in infants examined at 1-4 months of age after being treated for NAS with a predilection for this to be right-sided. The etiology for this is uncertain, but newborns treated for NAS need close follow-up post discharge.
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