title: Adult Patients with Congenital Muscular Torticollis Treated with Bipolar Release: Report of 31 Cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the surgical results of bipolar release in 31 adult patients with uncorrected congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) and more than 12 months of follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients underwent a bipolar release of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) and were retrospectively analyzed. The mean follow-up period was 14.9 months (range, 12-30). The mean age at time of surgery was 30.3 years (range, 20-54). Patients were evaluated with a modified Lee's scoring system, cervicomandibular angle (CMA) measurement, and a global satisfaction rating scale using patient self-reporting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The modified Lee's scoring system indicated excellent results in 4 (12.9%) patients, good in 18 (58.1%), and fair in 9 (29.0%) at the last follow-up after surgery. The improvements in neck movement and head tilt were statistically significant (p<0.05). The preoperative mean CMA was 15.4° (range, 5.4-29.0), which was reduced to a mean of CMA of 6.3° (range, 0-25) after surgery (p<0.05). The global satisfaction rating scale was 93.7% (range, 90-100). A transient sensory deficit on the ipsilateral lower ear lobe was noted in three cases. No significant permanent complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bipolar release of the SCM is a safe and reliable technique for the treatment of CMT in adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Maryknoll General Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Gun Sang
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Maryknoll General Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Ki
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Maryknoll General Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Maryknoll General Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Maryknoll General Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Maryknoll General Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Adult; Congenital; Sternocleidomastoid muscle; Tenotomy; Torticollis