Endoscopic sternocleidomastoid muscle amputation for the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate curative effects of endoscopic sternocleidomastoid muscle amputation for the treatment of congenital muscular torticollis.Methods A total of 23 children with congenital muscular torticollis were treated in this department.Their age was 1 month ~ 12 years old(median,30 months).A 5 mm trocar was inserted through the right axilla along the cleavage lines.Under the endoscopic visualization,the sarcolemma on the inferior portion of the muscle was bluntly dissected and a subcutaneous space was established by CO_2 inflation at the pressure of 6 mm Hg.Another two 3 mm incisions were made along the cleavage lines at lower lateral part of the neck and the anterior chest wall for the introduction of curved forceps and electric knife,respectively.The sternocleidomastoid muscle was transected with electrocautery and the external fascia within which the sternocleidomastoid muscle resides was also adequately divided. Results The operation was successfully completed under endoscope in all the 23 children.The mean operation time was 51.2 min(range,(35~)135 min) and the intraoperative blood loss was