Torticollis, Plagiocephaly, and Brachial Plexus Injury Flashcards
What is Congenital Muscular Torticollis (CMT)?
Unilateral shortening of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM)
What is the position of a child’s head that has CMT?
- Laterally flexed/side-bending to ipsilateral side
- Rotated to contralateral side
What cervical limitations do you see in a child with CMT?
- Contralateral sidebending and ipsilateral rotation
- Limited ext/flex but b/c of short neck it is hard to discern
An infant exhibits left lateral neck flexion and rotation of the head toward the right, what do they have?
Shortening of the left SCM
-Left Congenital Muscular Torticollis
What are some things you can look at to assess asymmetry of an infant/baby?
- Measure distance from ear to shoulder on both sides
- Look at occiput to see if a slant is present
- Look at spine and hips
- Visual tracking
- Equilibrium (vestibular system)
- Typical positions during activities (sleeping, feeding, etc)
- Reflexes
If the child has a left CMT, what is happening in the pelvis and face?
- Left CMT = Left sidebending, Right rotation
- More weight bearing on left hip/pelvis
- Left fascial drooping
- Left mandible has decreased muscle development
What is a prenatal deformation?
Normal responses of the tissue to abnormal mechanical forces.
what are 2 things that can cause prenatal deformations?
- Extrinsic forces - intrauterine constraint (baby may be laterally flexed and SCM will start to shorten)
- Intrinsic forces
What is the proposed etiology for CMT?
Specific causation is unknown.
- Can be associated with how the fetus is positioned in utero or from complicated delivery
- -> From babies being in breech position during delivery instead of vertex (“normal”) position
What are does CMT cause?
A palpable mass or fibrotic tumor is often observed
- Hypothesized occlusion of blood vessels with resultant anoxic injury to the SCM
- Could be from intrauterine malposition or trauma at birth
Is fibrosis present in all CMT children?
YES - Fibrosis of the SCM muscle is present in all children with CMT and ranges on a continuum of no palpable mass to a firm palpable mass
What is the Brachial Plexus Outcome Measure?
- evaluated quality of UE movement upon completion of 11 movements
- graded on a 5 point ordinal scale
- demonstrates good internal consistency and construct validity
- best used in adjunct w/Active movement scale
What are some PT goals for a brachial plexus injury?
- ideal outcome is complete return of motor control and sensation w/o limitations
- increase shoulder abd. to greater than 90 degrees
- correct internal rotation of arm
- increase flex/ext against resistance in elbow
- increase flex/ext against resistance in wrist and fingers
- improve sensation in arm and hand
- prevent deformities in arm and hand
- achieve developmental milestones
What are 3 CMT types
SCM Tumor Muscular Torticollis (MT) Positional Torticollis (POST)
Define SCM tumor
definitive mass or tumor PALPABLE withing SCM muscle
Define Muscular Torticollis (MT)
Contracture of SCM muscle is present but NO PALPABLE MASS present
Define Postitional Torticolis (POST)
Contracture of SCM muscle and PALPABLE MASS ABSENT.
This may be due to reflex
Positional reflex
What is some Conservative Congenital Muscular Torticollis Managment
-Prolonged passive stretching of SCM muscle
-POSITION AND HANDLING (Biggest challenge in babies)
-AROM in cervical with subsequent strengthening exercises
-Symmetric developmental activities to correct head position
Success of conservative management during first year
What is the TOT collar?
- Orthotic device that may be beneficial to help maintain Rom
- Soft tubular collar with struts of varying lengths that are positioned to elongate targeted muscles and limit motion in opposite direction
What is the criteria for a TOT collar
Recommended for infants at least 4 months old with consistent head tilt of 5 degrees or more for more than 80% of day who perform all movement with head tilt