How to treat congenital squint?

  There are two types of congenital oblique neck: myoclinal oblique neck and bony oblique neck. Congenital myotonic squint is often found within a few days after birth, and on examination it is seen that the sternocleidomastoid muscle on the affected side is shortened, and a round or pike shaped hard object can be felt on the affected side of the neck, hiding in the middle 1/3 of the muscle. The cause is now thought to be due to mechanization after the formation of a hematoma from a lacerated blood vessel from a birth injury, or ischemic contracture due to swelling of the muscle after injury and obstruction of venous return, or fetal malposition and twisting of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Bony oblique neck is caused by developmental malformation of the spine. Congenital myelomeningocele generally cannot recover on its own, and once discovered, it should be treated as early as possible to avoid secondary spinal curvature and facial skeletal deformity at a later stage.  (1) Non-surgical treatment. Children within 1 year old can use conservative treatment first: massage the lump with massage and correct it with manipulation several times a day; correct it with a sandbag on the affected side when sleeping; or correct it with a brace, supplemented by physical therapy. This method is effective for mild strabismus, but for severe cases and children older than 1 year old, the above methods are not effective and surgical treatment is required.  (2) Surgical treatment. Surgery can be performed under local anesthesia, and for those who cannot cooperate, it should be performed under general anesthesia. A small incision is made at the upper two fingers of the clavicle to cut off the shortened muscle and fully release the muscle pulling restriction on the meridian, and external fixation with a neck brace for 6-8 weeks after surgery to consolidate the surgical effect and prevent recurrence.  For children aged 1-4 years old with mild disease, only the clavicular and sternal heads of the sternocleidomastoid muscles are cut off, and sandbags are applied to correct them after surgery, and the child is educated to rotate the chin to the affected side and the occiput to the healthy side after the stitches are removed. The patient should be sutured until the muscle is completely loose, the wound is closed, the head is placed in a corrected position, and the head is fixed in a cervicothoracic cast for 3-4 weeks, without damaging the phrenic nerve, the external jugular vein, the common carotid artery and the internal jugular vein.  After surgery, patients with long-term oblique neck often experience diplopia and body balance disorders, which will recover on their own after a period of time. However, in older patients with facial asymmetrical deformities, further surgery is required.  (3) Those with bony squint must correct their primary bony deformity, which requires treatment in orthopedics. Treatment of secondary oblique neck requires treatment of its primary causes, and once these causes are eliminated, oblique neck can be prevented or gradually eliminated.