HEAD-WAG AUTOTOMOGRAPHY OF THE UPPER CERVICAL-SPINE IN INFANTILE TORTICOLLIS

Background. Infants with torticollis require evaluation of the entire cervical spine for vertebral anomalies as part of the work-up, but ope n-mouth views to assess occiput to C2 are difficult to obtain. Objecti ve. To evaluate a ''head wag'' autotomographic technique for the front al projection of this region. Materials and methods. Twenty infants un der one year of age were evaluated using this technique. Results. Sixt een of 20 could be adequately evaluated using this simple, low-radiati on-dose procedure. Conclusion. For infants with torticollis in whom ve rtebral anomalies need to be excluded, the ''head wag'' technique is u seful.