Original article

The importance of early diagnosis of congenital torticollis: a five-year retrospective study at a tertiary centre

Authors

• • Selma Muratović
  • • Conceptualization
    • Investigation
    • Methodology
    • Project Administration
    • Writing - Original Draft
    • Writing - Review & Editing
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  • Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• • Gordana Grgić
  • • Conceptualization
    • Investigation
    • Methodology
    • Writing - Original Draft
    • Writing - Review & Editing
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  • Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• • Anis Cerovac cerovac.anis@gmail.com Email Anis Cerovac. (compose email, opens in email app.) Anis Cerovac ORCID profile. (opens in new tab)
  • • Conceptualization
    • Investigation
    • Methodology
    • Writing - Original Draft
    • Writing - Review & Editing
    (opens in new tab)
  • School of Medicine, University of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• • Dubravko Habek
  • • Formal Analysis
    • Supervision
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  • Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Hospital Merkur, Zagreb, Croatia
• • Azra Hadžimedmedović
  • • Data Curation
    • Formal Analysis
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  • Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• • Asja Terzić
  • • Data Curation
    • Formal Analysis
    • Writing - Review & Editing
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  • Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Aim: To determine the frequency of congenital muscular torticollis (CMT), identify associated risk factors and assess common associated neonatal conditions.

Methods: This retrospective study reviewed medical records of newborns diagnosed with CMT at the Clinic for Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Clinical Centre Tuzla, from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2023. Data on maternal, pregnancy, delivery, neonatal and physiotherapy-related variables were analysed.

Results: During the five-year period, 16,899 newborns were delivered, of whom 141 (0.83%) were diagnosed with CMT. CMT was most frequent among newborns of primiparous mothers (94; 66.7%) and after vaginal delivery (78; 55.3%). Most newborns had an Apgar score ≥8 (108; 76.6%) and were born at ≥37 weeks of gestation (130; 92.2%). CMT was slightly more common in female newborns (73; 51.8%) and was more often right-sided (88; 62.4%). Complete recovery was reported among all newborns with available physiotherapy follow-up data.

Conclusion: The frequency of CMT over the five-year period was 0.83%. Early diagnosis and timely initiation of physical therapy were associated with complete recovery among newborns with available follow-up data.

Keywords: congenital muscular torticollis, newborn, physical therapy, risk factors

How to Cite: Muratović, S. , Grgić, G. , Cerovac, A. , Habek, D. , Hadžimedmedović, A. & Terzić, A. (2026) “The importance of early diagnosis of congenital torticollis: a five-year retrospective study at a tertiary centre”, Medicinski glasnik. 23(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.17392/medglas-2178-23-2