Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Torticollis is a twisted neck in which the head is tipped to one side, while the chin is turned to the other.
Alternative Names
Wry neck; Loxia
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Torticollis may be:
- Inherited: Due to specific changes in your genes
- Acquired: Develops as a result of damage to the nervous system or muscles
If the condition occurs without a known cause, it is called idiopathic torticollis.
Torticollis may develop in childhood or adulthood. Congenital torticollis (present at birth) may occur if the fetus' head is in the wrong position while growing in the womb, or if the muscles or blood supply to the fetus' neck are injured.
Images
Review Date: 06/01/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of
Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology,
Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD,
MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
