[Subcutaneous tenotomy of the sternocleidomastoid muscle as therapy in muscular torticollis].

This study reviews the cases of 49 patients with congenital muscular torticollis after an average follow-up of seven years, who were treated with subcutaneous sternomastoid tenotomy. An excellent result was found in 18 patients (37%), a good result in another 18 patients (37%), while the result of 13 patients (26%) must be regarded as unsatisfactory. There were no severe complications to be seen. These results are compared with other operative technics of treatment of muscular torticollis and the poor results are analyzed. We believe that subcutaneous sternomastoid tenotomy is a good method for treatment of muscular torticollis, with the advantage of avoiding any ugly scar.