Familial congenital muscular torticollis: case report and review of the literature.

A family history of congenital muscular torticollis is uncommon. Only a small number of cases have been reported in the English literature. This is a report of five female children who are interrelated and have congenital muscular torticollis. Three of the children are sisters, and four are the offspring of consanguineous matings. No environmental factor could be identified that would predispose the children to congenital muscular torticollis. In this family, it is apparent that genetic factors are influencing the development of this condition. The cause of congenital muscular torticollis is unknown, but heredity may play a more important role than has previously been suspected.