First time in Vietnam: Successful endoscopic release technique of congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) via armpit incision

17/09/2021 14:01

 

On September 6^th, Viet Duc University Hospital (VDUH) informed a successful endoscopic release technique of CMT, this is the first case reported to date.

 

Vu Trung Truc, MD, PhD, Deputy Chief of Department of Maxillofacial, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, VDUH, said: “A 24-year-old female patient was diagnosed CMT had rehabilitation therapy without successful outcomes. Although she has been examined at many hospitals and was also indicated for operation, she has repeatedly refused surgery because she feared it would leave gruesome scars. The application of endoscopic technique allows surgeons to hide a small scar in the armpit area, meeting the demands of the patient both functionally and aesthetically. Immediately after surgery, the range of motion of the neck improved significantly, but the patient still needs to rehabilitation exercises according to the instructions of a physiotherapist to achieve the optimal outcomes.

 

CMT accounts for 0.3 to 1.9% of newborns. This malformation is the third most common of the musculoskeletal system malformations in children. The main method of treatment in the early stages is rehabilitation exercises, while some cases need to be treated with surgery. In untreated or late-stage cases, muscle shortening can cause secondary deformities of the neck, face, and even the skull. The classical surgical approach mostly uses incisions in the facial and neck area to release or lengthen the muscles, which leave permanent and conspicuous scars.

 

“VDUH is the leading laparoscopic surgery center in Vietnam. In our department, endoscopy surgery has also been widely applied in plastic and aesthetic surgery such as craniofacial repair, breast and abdominal aesthetic surgery. The successful implementation of this technique for CMT contributes to meeting the increasing treatment demands of patients.” Nguyen Hong Ha, PhD, Assoc. Prof, Chief of the Department of Maxillofacial, Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery added.