Age-group-specific improvement of vertebral scoliosis after the surgical release of congenital muscular torticollis

Abstract

Background Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders prevalent in childhood. Secondary scoliosis can be induced in patients with CMT; however, there are insufficient reports on the extent of inclination and improvement of scoliotic change after surgical correction of CMT. This study aims to evaluate and measure the improvement of vertebral tilting after surgical correction according to the age of surgical correction. Methods Between June 2007 and January 2020, 831 patients with CMT underwent sternocleidomastoid (SCM) release. Among them, 426 patients were enrolled, and their records were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into four groups according to their age at the time of surgery to determine the relationship between age and change in the scoliosis. Results Our findings showed improvement in scoliosis for all age groups after surgery. The follow-up results for six months and one year confirmed an improvement in vertebral tilting. The degree of improvement in scoliosis increased significantly in the young age group compared to those aged 18 or older. Conclusions The effect of surgical release on scoliosis in all age groups was significant. The findings in this study suggest that CMT should be corrected before the age of three to obtain the optimum surgical mitigation effect from the perspective of scoliosis. At the same time, in the case of neglected CMT, since there is a significant improvement, a surgical release should be actively attempted.