title: Endoscopic-assisted surgical correction for congenital muscular torticollis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Various surgical approaches have been advocated to release, lengthen, or excise a segment of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle for the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis (CMT). However, all those conventional methods make noticeable scars on the clavicle or neck area. We proposed the endoscopic-assisted postauricular approach for the treatment of CMT that provides good functional and cosmetic outcomes and less learning curve.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endoscopic-assisted release of the SCM muscle was performed in 15 children. Ages at operation ranged from 9 months to 6 years, with a mean of 17.6 months. The sternal and clavicular attachments of the SCM muscle were dissected and resected at 1-cm segments near to the insertion area, through the endoscopic view. To prevent relapse, neck splint was applied after operation for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operative time was 40 minutes. During the procedure, great auricular nerve and spinal accessory nerve were preserved well and there were no complications. Follow-up for 6 months in all patients showed complete muscular release and satisfactory correction with no recurrence. The neck scars were not visible after the procedure. The incision scar was well obscured on the posterior auricular sulcus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic correction for the CMT is a feasible and easy-to-learn procedure. This method is a safe and effective procedure that provides good functional and cosmetic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Institute for Human Tissue Restoration Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Geun
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Kyun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Rah
authors.forename: Yong Oock
authors.initials: YO
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014103:Torticollis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome