病因学尚不明确,有一些假说。
有作者发现在臀位生产和剖宫产婴儿中发病率增加,分别达到13%~17%和16%~22%,提示可能跟宫内姿势和挤压有关。[8]Cheng JC, Au AW. Infantile torticollis: a review of 624 cases. J Pediatr Orthop. 1994;14:802-808.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7814599?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Binder H, Eng GD, Gaiser JF, et al. Congenital muscular torticollis: results of conservative management with long-term follow-up in 85 cases. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1987;68:222-225.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3566514?tool=bestpractice.com[14]Emery C. The determinants of treatment duration for congenital muscular torticollis. Phys Ther. 1994;74:921-929.http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/74/10/921.full.pdf+htmlhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8090843?tool=bestpractice.com 双胞胎中发病率增加,双胎先出在宫内位置越低,斜头畸形发生率越高,更加支持病因和宫内环境更受限制有关。[15]Peitsch WK, Keefer CH, LaBrie RA, et al. Incidence of cranial asymmetry in healthy newborns. Pediatrics. 2002;110:e72.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12456939?tool=bestpractice.com[16]Littlefield TR, Kelly KM, Pomatto JK, et al. Multiple-birth infants at higher risk for development of deformational plagiocephaly: II. Is one twin at greater risk? Pediatrics. 2002;109:19-25.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11773537?tool=bestpractice.com
难产,比如需要产钳和胎头吸引的分娩,先天性肌斜颈发生率增加到22%-29%。[8]Cheng JC, Au AW. Infantile torticollis: a review of 624 cases. J Pediatr Orthop. 1994;14:802-808.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7814599?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Binder H, Eng GD, Gaiser JF, et al. Congenital muscular torticollis: results of conservative management with long-term follow-up in 85 cases. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1987;68:222-225.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3566514?tool=bestpractice.com[14]Emery C. The determinants of treatment duration for congenital muscular torticollis. Phys Ther. 1994;74:921-929.http://ptjournal.apta.org/content/74/10/921.full.pdf+htmlhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8090843?tool=bestpractice.com 产伤理论认为先天性短缩的胸锁乳突肌在分娩时被撕开,形成血肿并机化。[17]Ho BC, Lee EH, Singh K. Epidemiology, presentation and management of congenital muscular torticollis. Singapore Med J. 1999;40:675-679.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10709403?tool=bestpractice.com 然而,出血性炎症反应和纤维破裂并不是经常能在患儿的胸锁乳突肌组织中发现。[18]Hsu TC, Wang CL, Wong MK, et al. Correlation of clinical and ultrasonographic features in congenital muscular torticollis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999;80:637-641.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10378488?tool=bestpractice.com
缺血假说认为静脉闭塞导致胸锁乳突肌缺血性改变,进而导致间隙综合征。[17]Ho BC, Lee EH, Singh K. Epidemiology, presentation and management of congenital muscular torticollis. Singapore Med J. 1999;40:675-679.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10709403?tool=bestpractice.com
斜头畸形可由于宫内或出生时塑形于出生时即存在,也可在出生后,由于缺少仰卧姿势导致。 尽管这些异常多可自愈,也可能由于重力使头偏向更平坦的枕侧而在仰卧位时持续存在。 与之相关的斜颈可由持续的不对称姿势导致。