Functional and Cosmetic Outcome of Unipolar Release of Congenital Muscular Torticollis in Children Above 1 Year.

BACKGROUND

Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is a common congenital musculoskeletal anomaly where the affected sternocleidomastoid, surrounding soft tissues, and platysma progressively shorten causing ipsilateral head tilt and contralateral chin rotation. If untreated it may lead to permanent disfiguration of the neck and face. Unipolar release surgery is a convenient procedure without the risk of the spinal accessory nerve. Our study aims to report the functional and cosmetic outcomes of unipolar release surgery in children above 1 year.

METHODS

Twenty-nine patients who underwent distal unipolar release surgery from 2016 to 2023 were included. Preoperative functional scores: limitation of range of motion, head tilt, and facial asymmetry were compared with postoperative functional scores in the latest follow-up. Cosmetic score: scar, loss of column, and lateral band were postoperatively assessed in the latest follow-up. Lee and Kang scoring system was used.

RESULTS

The study participants had a mean age of 9.3±3.3 years with a mean follow-up of 3.5 years with 18 (63%) right-side and 11(38) left-side cases. Preoperative lateral rotation limitation was found to be poor in 11, fair in 15, and good in 3 cases, which progressed to good in 12 and excellent in 17 cases. The preoperative head tilt was found to be poor in 11, fair in 17, and good in 1 case, which after surgery was found to be good in 15 cases and excellent in 14 cases. Preoperative facial asymmetry cases were poor in 12 cases, fair in 16 cases, and good in 1 case, which postoperatively improved to 3 poor, 21 fair, and 5 good cases. Similarly, 21 (72%) cases had excellent scars and no loss of column.

CONCLUSION

Unipolar release surgery has a favorable outcome in all our cases. All preoperative functional scores improved at our final follow-up and was statistically significant. Cosmetic outcome was also favorable.