torticollis; loxia; collum distortum; wryneck; cervical dystonia; spasmodic retrocollis

Clinical manifestations

• muscle contraction, often spasmodic affecting muscles of the neck, chiefly those innervated by the spinal accessory nerve
• the head is drawn to one side & usually rotated so that the chin points to the other side
• movements may be tonic, clonic or a combination of the two
• neck pain may be substantial

Management

• non-drug therapies
  • physical therapy, aquatic therapy
  • speech therapy
  • occupational therapy
• pharmaceuticals
  • Botox injections
  • oral agents
    • anticholinergic agents
    • benzodiazepines
      • baclofen
      • Sinemet, bromocryptine
      • tetrabenzine
• surgery (Bertrand procedure) peripheral nerve denervation

More general terms

• dystonia

Patient information

torticollis patient information