Partial resection of the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis in children

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of partial resection of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) in the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) in children. A total of 149 patients (76 males and 73 females, mean age 3.40 ± 3.58 years) with CMT who underwent partial resection of the SCM at our hospital from December 2011 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, among whom 67 patients presented with right-sided involvement and 82 with left-sided involvement. A total of 109 patients aged 1–4 years were allocated to Group 1, while 40 patients aged 5–16 years were assigned to Group 2. Postoperative efficacy was evaluated using the Cheng and Tang scales, and the average follow-up duration was 5.34 ± 2.43 years. According to the Cheng and Tang scale, 109 patients achieved an excellent score, 34 patients attained a good score, and six patients received a fair score. The operation time was longer in Group 2 than in Group 1 ( P < 0.001). Postoperative complications included recurrence in five patients, wound infection in one patient, and hematoma in one patient, whereas no other significant permanent complications occurred in any patient. Our findings demonstrate that partial SCM resection represents an effective treatment option for pediatric CMT.