Algorithm for torticollis diagnosis in children of younger age groups

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Torticollis is a common term for abnormal head or neck positions. Torticollis can be due to a wide variety of pathological processes, from relatively benign to life-threatening. This syndrome is of particular relevance in pediatric practice and is often underestimated at the primary care level. AIM: To analyze the data of domestic and foreign literature on the etiopathogenesis and clinical features of various types of torticollis in children and develop algorithms for the differential diagnosis of torticollis in children of younger age groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was conducted in the open information databases of eLIBRARY and Pubmed using the keywords and phrases: torticollis, congenital muscular torticollis, non-muscular torticollis, acquired torticollis, and neurogenic torticollis, without limiting the depth of retrospection. RESULTS: Based on the literature data generalization, the classification of torticollis and the key directions of its differential diagnosis are systematized in tabular form. The range of differential diagnosis of torticollis is quite wide and has its characteristics in newborns and children of the first years of life, contrary to older children. The most common is congenital muscular torticollis. Concurrently, non-muscular forms of torticollis in the aggregate are not uncommon, more often with a more serious etiology, and require careful examination. Based on the analyzed literature, differential algorithms for torticollis diagnosis in children of younger age groups have been compiled. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the level of the knowledge of pediatric clinicians in the etiopathogenesis of torticollis syndrome will improve the efficiency of early diagnosis of dangerous diseases that lead to pathological head and neck positions in children.