Intervention of early infant scoliosis to prevent many complications

Newborn scoliosis is more likely to happen when the baby has to go through a difficult labor or the baby's position in the womb is incorrect. This is usually not painful for the baby, but can cause the baby's head to tilt to the side, causing disproportionate.

Torticollis is a condition where a baby's head is tilted to one side and his chin tilted in the opposite direction. This can be congenital or medical. However, whatever the reason, it causes the neck muscles to contract, the head is tilted and turned to the side.

What is scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a condition in which the neck is abnormally “twisted” due to a stretched sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM). The SCM muscle is a muscle that connects the sternum and collarbone to the skull. The SCM muscle is present on both sides of the head. When one muscle contracts, it pulls the neck in that direction while the other muscle relaxes.

Causes of scoliosis in babies

There are two types: congenital scoliosis or disease-associated curvature.

Congenital scoliosis

Congenital scoliosis is a condition in which a baby's neck is borne and it continues to develop like this in the first 3 months. The causes of this condition can be due to:

1. Butt-pregnant

If the fetus is breech , the baby's buttocks will be born first. This way, your baby's neck can be stretched and stuck in the birth canal. This causes the SCM muscle to tear, causing internal bleeding and bruising.

2. Developmental problems in the fetus

During development, your baby's neck may become twisted. This causes the SCM muscle to shorten. Causes of a crooked neck can be:

Abnormalities that occur during the formation of the cervical vertebra can be the cause of the cervical scoliosis, also known as the Klippel-Feil cervical vertebrae congenital syndrome. At this time, the cervical vertebrae are stuck together, making the baby's neck area difficult to move and tends to tilt to the side. However, this cause is usually not common.

Injured fetus: physical effects on the uterus can affect fetal development. This causes the baby's neck muscles to weaken and at birth the baby's head is tilted to one side.

3. Injury during birth

The baby stuck in the birth canal will be brought out with the help of a forcep clamp or suction cup . Using too much force to "pull" the baby out can cause SCM muscle injury. In addition, improper use of fertility devices can also cause your baby to have a crooked neck.

Neck scoliosis caused by disease

Scoliosis can be a side effect of a health problem. If it is for this reason, the baby will not be born when it is born. Some of the health problems that commonly cause scoliosis in newborn babies:

1. Tearing eyes

Babies with a skewed eye may have difficulty recognizing depth and distance. Because she tries to see, she will tilt her head. Too much tilting your baby's head can strain the SCM muscles, leading to a curvature of the neck.

If it is for this reason, the SCM muscle is still healthy at birth. Hence, scoliosis is only a mild, but important, eye problem.

2. Sandifer syndrome

Babies with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can develop a rare pediatric disorder called Sandifer syndrome. If this is the case, the baby's muscles will abnormally contract with the reflux attacks. However, this syndrome is very rare.

3. Neck scoliosis outbreaks

Infants tend to tilt their heads for long periods of time, from a few hours to a few days. Your baby will tilt in any direction and then return to normal. This condition is repeated over and over again with symptoms such as disorientation, drowsiness, and irritability. This usually occurs a lot in the first 12 months and goes away after the baby is 5 years old. The cause of this condition is unknown, but many experts think it may be due to problems in the nervous system rather than the muscle.

4. Grisel syndrome

Nasal and throat infections can cause neck muscle inflammation, leading to a dislocated occipital joint. It can also occur from tonsillitis, nasopharyngeal, and otitis media . Dislocated joints will tilt the baby's head, causing neck scoliosis. Grisel syndrome can occur at any age, but is most common in adolescents.

5. Nodding spasticity

Three problems at once: nodding, arrhythmia, and fibrillation of the eyeball. The cause of this condition is unknown but is believed to be related to iron, vitamin D deficiency and brain disorders.

6. Infections and injuries

Babies may have a scoliosis from direct trauma. In addition, infection of the cervical spine and surrounding tissues can also cause this condition.

Symptoms of scoliosis in a newborn

If you suspect your baby has scoliosis, watch for the following symptoms:

Baby just tilted her head in one direction.

Baby just likes to suck on one breast. Scoliosis can limit the baby's head movement, making it difficult for him to suckle.

There is a small lump on the neck. If your baby has damaged SCM muscles, you may notice a small lump on the neck.

These symptoms are quite obvious, so you can easily spot them. If your baby has any of the above signs, you should take your baby to the doctor for prompt treatment.

How is newborn scoliosis diagnosed?

Doctors will use one of the following three ways to diagnose scoliosis:

1. Direct test:  The fastest way to identify scoliosis is to examine your baby. The doctor can move the baby's head and feel if the SCM muscles are tense. If your baby's neck muscles are injured at birth, the doctor will look for scars that have remained. Check your baby right after birth and a few days after. This helps in early detection of scoliosis in the newborn. If your baby has a curvature of the neck due to the illness, the doctor will look for symptoms and will ask you about your baby's medical history.

2. X-rays: X-rays help provide a clear picture of your baby's bone structure. This method not only helps detect scoliosis, but also helps detect other bone disorders.

3. Ultrasound:  This is a method of using high-frequency sound waves to create accurate images of muscles and blood vessels. Through an evaluation of the ultrasound images, the doctor will determine exactly if the SCM muscle is having problems.

How to treat scoliosis in a newborn

If the curvature of the neck is caused by a disease, the doctor will focus on treating the problem your baby is having. If the curvature of the neck is caused by birth, the doctor will treat the baby in the following ways:

1. Practice physical therapy

Exercises can be done at home with a parent or a specialist. If you are training your baby directly, you need to get careful training from a pediatric physiotherapist. Along with practice is the regular examination to evaluate the progress of treatment.

Remember never to do these exercises without the guidance of a medical professional. Expert consultation is essential before performing any exercises with your baby's neck.

These exercises help the SCM muscle lessen and help return to normal shape. The baby's head is gently stretched in many different directions, thus reducing the tilt.

2. Wear a TOT necklace (tubular orthosis for torticollis)

A TOT collar is a simple tool that helps immobilize your baby's neck. The TOT collar exerts gentle pressure on the opposite side of the tilted head, then gently brings the neck to the correct alignment by stretching the SCM muscle. The doctor will teach parents how to remove and remove the necklace. Your baby will have to wear a necklace for the prescribed amount of time each day. Most necklaces are washable because they are made of plastic or fabric. TOT collars are often recommended in conjunction with physical therapy exercise.

3. Botox injections

Botulinum injections, also known as Botox, help relieve muscle tension and reduce head tilt. The Botox drug will be injected directly into the SCM muscle to release the tension. Your baby may have to undergo many injections depending on the intensity of the disease.

Botox is the method between physical therapy and surgery. In adults, Botox is used to treat muscle spasms. However, this treatment is only suitable for babies older than 6 months.

4. Surgery

This is your last resort if none of the above interventions have worked. How the surgical procedure depends on the severity of the disease.

Surgical methods are often accompanied by intensive physical therapy sessions. In addition, the baby must also wear a brace to maintain the correct position of the head.

Recovery time

You should treat your baby before 6 months of age because this is the stage when the musculoskeletal system is still flexible. The exercises take more than 6 months to see effectiveness, while the surgery will show immediate results but the baby has to go through more than 3 months of physical therapy. If not treated in time, scoliosis can cause many long-term complications.

Long-term complications of neonatal scoliosis

If the scoliosis is persistent, the following complications may develop:

1. Flat head:  Scoliosis can cause flattened head because lying on its side when sleeping for too long can make a baby's head slim and flattened.

2. Facial Asymmetry: Asymmetry occurs when one side of the face is too different from the other. When babies tend to tilt their head to one side, their facial muscles will be misaligned.

3. Bone Disorders:  Babies with a crooked neck will be at risk for bone problems. As the head is tilted to the side, other parts of the body will not align properly. This causes the incorrect combination of bones, leading to bone complications such as elbow dysplasia, clubfoot ...

Timely treatment of newborn scoliosis is your way to prevent these complications.

How can you support your baby?

There are several methods that can help support your baby at home that you can try:

1. Let your baby lie on his stomach for longer

Pediatric experts confirm this simple activity can help your baby's physical development. Tummy will help strengthen the neck and muscles, stimulating the baby to use more muscles.

2. Make your baby look in the other direction

Another way to overcome infant curvatures is to encourage the baby to turn his head in the opposite direction. Use food or toys to seduce your baby. This helps to stimulate the natural neck muscles. During feedings, you can place the bottle or feed the baby on the opposite side of the breast from the tilt of the baby's head. This will help the SCM muscles relax, reducing cervical symptoms in the newborn.

3. Observe your baby's sleeping position

You should avoid letting your baby use baby fixtures in a single position as it can increase the risk of flat head. Parents can use neck support pillows to help. Experts recommend using specialized pillows to help your baby sleep better. However, consult your doctor before use.

Preventing scoliosis in babies

There are a few things you can do to help lower your baby's risk of having a scoliosis:

1. Safe labor

Gluteus pregnancy may increase the risk of cervical curvatures due to trauma at birth. If she feels that a normal delivery could be harmful, a caesarean section is recommended.

2. Find out the early signs of scoliosis related problems

Scoliosis in a newborn can be caused by a number of health problems. Be wary of the signs because early detection will help a higher rate of success.

Neck curl is not painful but it can change a baby's face. In addition, your baby will also have difficulty turning her head. Watch for signs and take your baby to the doctor if you suspect that your baby's neck is crooked for prompt treatment.