What is the syndrome of acute torticollis

Acute torticollis – spastic contraction of the neck muscles with deviation of the head from the centerline of the torso that occurs when the spinal deformity. Pathology is accompanied by severe pain.

The Disease can be transient or permanent, depending on the nature of the anatomical changes of the cervical spine.

sharp torticollis the boy

The Pathology occurs predominantly in young people under the age of 30 years.

Causes pathology

Causes of acute torticollis:

  • Trauma to the intervertebral disc;
  • damage to the joints of the spine;
  • Subluxation of the first cervical vertebra (C1);
  • Violation of the relationship of the bones in the Atlanto-axial joint (between the head and neck).

Injury of intervertebral disks lead to reduction of the distance between adjacent vertebrae and pinching of the spinal nerves. Because of the innervation occurs hypertonicity sternocleidomastoid and sternocleidomastoid muscles, which leads to "pulling" the neck to the right or left.

damage to the joints of the spine accompanied by the displacement and instability of the vertebrae. With a sharp movement or head tilt occurs the nerve roots that ends a "block" of the cervical musculature.

Why is there a spasm of the neck muscles

diagnosis of acute torticollis

The Symptoms of the "curve" of the neck, caused by subluxation of C1, actively studied foreign sources. Accumulated a lot of conflicting data on the impact of this pathology on the formation of hypertonicity sternocleidomastoid muscle, but in our country the violation of the relationship between head and cervical vertebrae as a factor causing distortion of the neck, play a big role.

The Advent of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allowed us to revise approaches to the disease. It is obvious that acute torticollis in children in 20% of cases is associated with subluxation of the Atlas.

Have kids trace changes in the joints C1-C2, which eliminates the dislocation of the cervical vertebrae as the cause of the disease.

An MRI scan in the initial stages of the disease does not show changes in uncovertebral joints C2-C3-C4. Subluxations appear later on the background of increased tone of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Antiedematous therapy after they disappear, which denies the influence of pathology uncovertebral joints on the appearance of "curved" necks.

Complicates the identification of causes of disease that in classical radiography of the cervical vertebrae cannot find major changes of the spinal column that trigger the muscle spasm. X-ray examination is capable of showing the destructive and traumatic vertebral injury, to identify compression fractures. More "subtle" parts of the disease are beyond the resolving power of x-rays.

the Detection of the syndrome in children

Syndrome of acute torticollis in a child

The Syndrome of acute torticollis in children is detected on the basis of clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging.

During examination of the patient has the following pathology:

  • the Offset of the neck to one side;
  • Rotate head to opposite side;
  • Pain in the projection of the cervical spine with sharp movements;
  • the Pain radiates to the upper limb and other organs.

The Severity of the syndrome depends on the etiological factor, the patient's age, number of disadvantaged nerves and the degree of compression. So, with a slight blow on the cervical spine, pain are transient and disappear after taking anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants.

On the background of degenerative-dystrophic diseases of spine (osteochondrosis and spondylosis) pain is of a permanent nature, and hypertonicity sternocleidomastoid muscle relaxing poorly eliminated biotherapies.

The child's acute curvature of the neck is manifested by specific symptoms in comparison with adults:

  1. Inflammation of the cervical lymph nodes (ring of Pirogov-Langhansa);
  2. Sharp pain in throat;
  3. Destruction of tooth enamel and tooth decay
  4. Frequent and prolonged respiratory infections.

The Above changes are associated with the lymph system on the background of pronounced spasm of muscle and circulatory disorders.

Treatment

physiotherapy in the treatment of acute torticollis

Clean "curve" neck necessary. To get rid of pathology the following methods:

  • physiotherapy
  • Manual therapy
  • Massage
  • Post isometric relaxation
  • Physiotherapy
  • Electrophoresis with iodine.

Post isometric relaxation is a relatively young but effective method of treatment for a spastic contraction of the muscles. When he Krivoshei spazmirovannuû helps to relax the muscle and reduce the degree of curvature of the spine.

All the manipulations are performed by hand. Withusing pan and tilt head with post isometric relaxation it is possible to achieve not only relaxation of muscle fibers, but also eliminate the subluxations of the vertebrae.

In conclusion, acute torticollis in children is more severe symptoms. The disease rarely goes away on its own, and therefore requires active treatment immediately after detection.