Reversal of Degenerative Changes in Cervical Spine Following Bipolar Release in a Neglected Case of Congenital Muscular Torticollis

Congenital Muscular Torticollis (CMT) is a common cause of torticollis in children. Despite the easy diagnosis, rare cases may be neglected and untreated during the management of the patients, which can not only impose cosmetic problems for them but also affect the cervical spine with accelerated degeneration. Most patients with CMT can be managed non-surgically with medical and physical therapies but surgery is indicated in some cases when non-surgical attempts are unsuccessful.

Herein, we are reporting a 16-year-old female with neglected CMT, and neck pain secondary to severe degenerative changes. We believe that neglected and untreated CMT cases may present with accelerated spine degeneration and surgical intervention should be
considered promptly to reverse this process.

Surgical intervention not only produces good cosmetic results but also reverses the degeneration process and protects the patient from disabling deformities later in life.