How to treat congenital myotonic neck in children

  Congenital myelomeningocele is a common condition in pediatric surgery. Most occur on the right side, and one fifth are combined with congenital hip dislocation. Congenital myotonic squint is a deviated neck with asymmetric head and neck deformity due to contracture of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on one side. The direct cause of congenital myotonic squint is fibrosis of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and subsequent contracture. The cause is not clear!  Clinical manifestations: 1. Congenital myotonic squamous neck is mainly manifested as an oval or pike shaped mass with a hard texture, normal skin and no tenderness on one side of the neck 7-14 days after birth.  2.After 2-3 months, the mass gradually shrinks and disappears completely after 6 months.  3. At the same time with the mass, neck deviation appears, head tilts to the affected side, jaw turns to the healthy side, and occipital deviation to the affected side. The neck rotation is limited (to the affected side).  4.After a period of time, facial deformation gradually appears, i.e. left and right facial asymmetry, easily causing eyestrain, and diplopia may appear in older children after surgery.  In children who have not been treated for a long time, it is difficult to restore the normal shape of the head and face even if the contracted sternocleidomastoid muscle is released by surgery, and the results of surgery are unsatisfactory.  Conservative treatment: In the past, it is advisable to start treatment as early as possible after the diagnosis of congenital myotonic squint is clear, and non-surgical treatment is mainly adopted within 1 year of age: (1) massage and massage of the sternocleidomastoid mass; (2) manipulation to tilt the child’s head and neck to the healthy side, turn the jaw to the affected side, and turn the occiput to the healthy side. (3) Inducing the child’s head and neck to rotate to the affected side by using light, toys, lying posture, etc.; (4) Keeping the head and neck in the corrected position with sandbags during sleep.  Recent views: In recent years, some scholars have suggested that self-healing is expected and no external intervention is needed until 1.5 years of age.  Surgical treatment: Surgical treatment can be performed at a later age of 1-1.5 years or when non-surgical treatment is ineffective. The optimal age for surgery is 1-5 years, and surgical outcomes are not satisfactory beyond 12 years of age.  Surgical method: The most advanced method: endoscopic sternocleidomastoidectomy. In our hospital, traditional open surgery has been replaced by minimally invasive surgery.