The neurology of benign paroxysmal torticollis of infancy: report of 10 new cases and review of the literature.
Benign paroxysmal torticollis is an under-recognized cause of torticollis of early infancy. The attacks usually last for less than 1 week, recur from every few days to every few months, improve by age 2 years, and end by age 3. There very frequently is a family history of migraine. We did a detailed analysis of 10 cases of benign paroxysmal torticollis, seen over 5 years, and compared our findings with those in the 103 cases in the literature. Detailed neurodevelopmental assessments, available only in our cases, showed accompanying gross motor delays in 5/10 children, with additional fine motor delays in 3/5. As the benign paroxysmal torticollis improved, so did the gross motor delays in 3/5, and the fine motor delays in 1/3. In all of our cases, at least 2 other family members had migraine. Benign paroxysmal torticollis is likely an age-sensitive, migraine-related disorder, commonly accompanied by delayed motor development.
Rosman
N Paul
NP
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. npaul.rosman@bmc.org
Douglass
Laurie M
LM
Sharif
Uzma M
UM
Paolini
Jan
J
D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders; D009043:Motor Activity; D014103:Torticollis / Q000503:physiopathology*