title: Acquired torticollis due to primary pyomyositis of the paraspinal muscles in an 11-year-old boy.
abstract: Torticollis is characterised by tilting and rotation of the cervical spine in opposite directions. Causes can be congenital or acquired. Primary pyomyositis is a rare subacute deep bacterial infection of skeletal muscles that typically affects individuals under 20 years of age from tropical countries. Infrequently, pyomyositis occurs in individuals from temperate regions, usually in immunocompromised adults, and this is defined as secondary pyomyositis. We report a case of acquired torticollis due to primary pyomyositis of the paraspinal muscles in a previously healthy boy from the UK. A prolonged course of antibiotics and physiotherapy led to a complete resolution of his illness. We review how to differentiate pyomyositis from focal myositis, a more common inflammatory muscular cause of acquired torticollis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK University of Liverpool, Institute of Infection and Global Health, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avula
authors.affiliation: Litttlewoods Neurosciences Unit, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kneen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064170:Paraspinal Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D052880:Pyomyositis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014103:Torticollis / Q000209:etiology*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents