Idiopathic muscular torticollis in children: the Cape Town experience

54 cases of Idiopathic Muscular Torticollis (IMT) referred for surgery over a 23-year period and 134 cases referred for physiotherapy over a 5-year period have been reviewed. Long-term cosmetic and functional results for 30% of the surgical cases are presented, with a mean follow-up time of 10.5 years. Demographic features, the role of physiotherapy, the timing of surgery and serial assessment are discussed and results are compared with similar studies from other centres. Locally, of the 134 cases referred primarily for physiotherapy, 36% defaulted from treatment, 60% enjoyed lasting benefit and 4% required subsequent surgical intervention. In the surgical cases, while early surgery appears preferable, delayed operation, even up to the ages of 4 or 5 years did not seem to prejudice long-term results, providing that the advent of facial hemihypoplasia did not precede surgery. Delay beyond this point, or roughly 6 or 7 years of age, would seem to prejudice function and/or cosmesis.