title: Biterminal tenotomy for the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis. Long-term results.
abstract: Fifty-five patients who, in a twenty-eight-year period, had been managed with a biterminal open release because of congenital muscular torticollis, were re-examined at an average of fifteen years and a minimum of five years after the operation. Forty-eight patients reported no functional or cosmetic impairment. Palpable soft-tissue strands remained in twenty-nine patients, but bending toward the untreated side was limited more than 10 degrees in only one patient. The rate of recurrence was 2 per cent. Facial asymmetry improved or resolved in more than one-half of the patients. We recommend that biterminal release be performed at the age of three to five years in all patients who do not respond to non-operative treatment.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Hagena
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wuelker
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Siebert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000209:etiology; D014103:Torticollis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery*