What is congenital myelomeningocele in children?

  Congenital myotonic plagiocephaly is one of the most common congenital malformations in pediatric orthopedic surgery. The incidence is about 0.3-0.5%. 80% occur on the right side and 20% are combined with congenital hip dislocation.  Congenital myotonic squint is a deformity of the head and neck due to contracture of the sternocleidomastoid muscle on one side, resulting in a deviated neck. The direct cause of congenital myotonic squint is sternocleidomastoid muscle fibrosis with subsequent contracture. However, the specific cause of sternocleidomastoid fibrosis is still not well understood. Since 50-70% of congenital myotonic leptomeningeal neck is seen in breech birth or obstructed birth, it has been thought for a long time that the disease is related to birth injury. It is even believed that the birth injury causes muscle hemorrhage, forming a hematoma, followed by hematoma mechanization, muscle fiber degeneration contracture and the emergence of oblique neck.  The main manifestations of congenital myotonic squint are: an oval or pike shaped mass on one side of the neck appears 7-14 days after birth, with a hard texture, normal skin and no tenderness; the mass gradually shrinks after 2-3 months and disappears completely after 6 months. At the same time as the lump, the neck is deviated, the head is flexed to the affected side, the jaw is turned to the healthy side, and the occiput is turned to the affected side. Rotation of the neck to the affected side is limited, and flexion to the healthy side is limited. After a certain period of time, facial deformation and asymmetry between the left and right side of the face gradually appear. In children who have not been treated for a long time, the soft tissues of the affected side of the neck also have corresponding contractures, and the deep cervical fascia, anterior oblique muscles, carotid artery sheath and intrasheath vessels have become shorter, and the cervical vertebrae have gradually changed morphologically and structurally. In this kind of advanced myotonic squint, it is difficult to restore the normal shape of the head and face even if the contracted sternocleidomastoid muscle is released surgically, and the surgical results are unsatisfactory.  After the diagnosis of congenital myotonic levator neck is clear, it is advisable to start treatment as early as possible.  1.massaging and pushing the sternocleidomastoid mass; 2.manipulating the child’s head and neck to the healthy side, turning the lower jaw to the affected side and the occiput to the healthy side. Use light, toys and lying posture to induce the child’s head and neck to rotate to the affected side; 4. Use sandbags to keep the head and neck in the corrected position during sleep.