Healthwise

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Congenital torticollis

Baby with normal neck muscles, compared to baby with congenital torticollis, with shortened neck muscle on right side causing head to tilt up to left.

Torticollis, also known as "wryneck," is a condition in which your baby's head is tilted. One of your newborn's neck muscles is shortened. So the chin points away from the shortened neck muscle. And the back of the head tilts back toward the shoulder. For example, if your baby's right neck muscle is shortened, the head will tilt back to the right shoulder and face left.

Current as of: July 17, 2023

Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

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