Wry Neck (Torticollis)

INTRODUCTION
1. With wry neck, the top of the head generally tilts to one side while the chin tilts to the
other.
2. Wry neck can be present at birth or occur after a muscle or nervous system injury.
3. Theres no way to prevent wry neck, but quick treatment can keep it from becoming
worse.

Wry neck, or torticollis, is a painfully twisted and tilted neck. The top of the head generally tilts
to one side while the chin tilts to the other side.

This condition can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired. It can also be the result of
damage to the neck muscles or blood supply. Wry neck sometimes goes away without
treatment. However, theres a chance of relapse.

Chronic wry neck can cause debilitating pain and difficulty performing daily tasks. Fortunately,
medications and therapies can relieve pain and stiffness. Surgery can also sometimes correct
the condition. Treatment is most successful if its started early. This is especially true for
children.

Causes of wry neck

Wry neck can be inherited.
It can also develop in the womb.
This may happen if your babys head is in the wrong position.
It can also be due to damage to the muscles or blood supply to the neck.
Anyone can develop wry neck after a muscle or nervous system injury.

Types of torticollis
Temporary torticollis

This type of wry neck usually disappears after one or two days. It can be due to:

swollen lymph nodes

an ear infection
a cold
an injury to your head and neck that causes swelling
Fixed torticollis

Fixed torticollis is also called acute torticollis or permanent torticollis. Its usually due to a
problem with the muscular or bone structure.

Muscular torticollis

This is the most common type of fixed torticollis. It results from scarring or tight muscles on one
side of the neck.

Klippel-Feil syndrome

This is a rare, congenital form of wry neck. It occurs when the bones in your babys neck form
incorrectly, notably due to two neck vertebrae being fused together. Children born with this
condition may have difficulty with hearing and vision.

Cervical dystonia

This rare disorder is sometimes referred to as spasmodic torticollis. It causes neck muscles to
contract in spasms. If you have cervical dystonia, your head twists or turns painfully to one side.
It may also tilt forward or backward. Cervical dystonia sometimes goes away without treatment,
but theres a risk of recurrence.

Cervical dystonia can happen to anyone. However, its most commonly diagnosed in people who
are roughly ages 40 to 60. It also affects more women than men

Symptoms of wry neck

Symptoms of wry neck can begin slowly. They may also worsen over time. The most common
symptoms include:

an inability to move your head normally

neck pain or stiffness
a headache
having one shoulder higher than the other
swollen neck muscles
a tilting of your chin to one side

The faces of children with congenital wry neck may appear flattened and unbalanced. They may
also have motor skill delays or difficulties with hearing and vision.
DIAGNOSIS
Several types of tests can also determine the cause of your wry neck.

An electromyogram (EMG) measures electrical activity in your muscles. It can

determine which muscles are affected.

Imaging tests such as X-rays and MRI scans can also be used to find structural
problems that might be causing your symptoms.

Treatments for wry neck

Treatments for wry neck include:

applying heat
massage
physical therapy
traction
stretching exercises
neck braces

Your doctor may recommend surgery, such as:

fusing abnormal vertebrae

lengthening neck muscles
cutting nerves or muscles
deep brain stimulation to interrupt nerve signals, which is used only in the most severe
cases of cervical dystonia

Medications can be helpful. They can include:

muscle relaxants
medications used to treat the tremors of Parkinsons disease
botulinum toxin injections repeated every few months
pain medications

AD V ER T IS E M E N T