Treatment Options For Torticollis

Surgical Intervention

Surgical intervention may be considered as a treatment for patients with torticollis who have not seen an improvement in their condition after conservative treatment methods. A variety of operations are available, and these may involve fusing the abnormal vertebrae in the neck, lengthening neck muscles, or cutting nerves in the neck. These procedures are typically carried out by orthopedic surgeons under general anesthesia. Some patients who have a type of adult torticollis known as cervical dystonia may benefit from deep brain stimulation. Neurologists perform this operation, and the patient is awake for much of the procedure. The surgery can help patients who have tremors as a symptom of their condition. Before undergoing any operation for torticollis, patients will have x-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans to plan the most effective operation possible. They will undergo pre-op checks such as blood tests and electrocardiograms to ensure that they are healthy enough for surgery.