Torticollis
Background
- Common term for various conditions of head and neck dystonia
- Spasmodic torticollis is an abnormal contraction of the muscle in one side of the neck.
- Cause is generally idiopathic (80-90%)
Clinical Features
- Neck pain with inability to fully range laterally
Differential Diagnosis
Neck pain
- Musculoskeletal
- Torticollis
- Dystonic reaction
- Cervical spondylosis
- Cervical stenosis
- Cancer
- Epidural abscess
- Vertebral osteomyelitis
- Transverse myelitis
- Temporal arteritis
- Epidural hematoma (anticoagulation, hemophilia)
- Cervical disk herniation
- Blunt neck trauma
- Anterior horn disease
- Cervical fractures and dislocations
- Cervical radiculopathy
Jaw Spasms
- Acute tetanus
- Akathisia
- Conversion disorder
- Drug toxicity (anticholinergic, phenytoin, valproate, carbamazepine)
- Dystonic reaction
- Electrolyte abnormality
- Hypocalcemic tetany
- Magnesium
- Mandible dislocation
- Meningitis
- Peritonsillar abscess
- Rabies
- Seizure
- Strychnine poisoning
- Stroke
- Temporomandibular disorder
- Torticollis
Movement Disorders and Other Abnormal Contractions
- Chorea
- Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- Serotonin syndrome
- Hypocalcemia
- Strychnine toxicity
- Acute tetanus
- Parkinson's disease
- Mono amine oxidase inhibitor toxicity
- Phencyclidine toxicity
- Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
- Huntington disease
- Wilson's disease
- CVA
- Schizophrenia
- Psychotic agitation
- Dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Vascular dementia
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Dystonic reaction
- Extrapyramidal reaction
- Torticollis
- Idiopathic movement disorder
Evaluation
- Clinical Diagnosis
- Consider cervical X-ray to rule out fracture or dislocation (unlikely to be necessary if no midline tenderness or history of trauma)
Management
Acute
- Pain control and muscle relaxation (PO benzodiazepine or opioid)
Chronic
- Benztropine
- Muscle relaxants
- Botulinum toxin
- Physical Therapy
Disposition
- Discharge