After the birth process is successfully completed, the newborn is referred for examination to neonatologists. In some cases, doctors find short neck syndrome in infants. Such a pathology arises due to a trauma suffered during childbirth or against the background of congenital malformations. Due to the fact that the neck of the child is of insufficient length, its mobility suffers. Parents should study the signs and symptoms of the syndrome in advance so as not to panic ahead of time when a child has a pathology. In addition, you should deal with possible options for combating the disease.
Consider short neck syndrome in infants in more detail.
Syndrome specification
A pathological change in the length of the neck in the baby has characteristic external manifestations. The head of the child with this disease is very close to the shoulders. In the process of growing up the child, the sign acquires more clear manifestations.
The neck in a newborn can be deformed due to a birth complication consisting in prolonged childbirth. A detailed examination allows the doctor to detect severe overstrain in the occipital region. It occurs due to excessive pressure on this area.
In addition, short neck syndrome in infants can develop against the background of genetic abnormalities previously recorded in any of the relatives of the child. In this case, the newborn revealed changes in the chromosomes in the spine. Such deviations can be detected, most often, already at 8 weeks of gestation. In this case, the fetus is diagnosed with Klippel-Feil syndrome.
Characteristic features of the manifestation of pathology
When diagnosing a short neck in an infant, specialists take into account all the symptoms that are present.
In clinical practice, there are a number of signs that allow you to diagnose a specified syndrome in a newborn baby:
- Small neck length from birth.
- The lower border of the scalp is low.
- A detailed examination reveals that the head is slightly tilted back.
- The mobility of the cervical vertebrae is low.
Quite often, pathology in newborns is accompanied by some other developmental deficiencies. For example, concomitant diagnoses such as dementia, heart disease, scoliosis are not uncommon.
Additional manifestations
In the case when the syndrome of a short neck in an infant is provoked by a genetic abnormality, it is additionally characterized by the following specific features:
- Violations in sleep mode.
- Some elements of the spinal column are firmly spliced together.
- A detailed examination reveals that the vertebrae are abnormally small, or they are not enough at all.
- The child can easily raise the shoulder blades to shoulder level.
- All muscles have a weak tone.
A detailed study of the cervical region reveals a small distance between the baby’s body and his head. Against the background of such manifestations, the child's body has some similarities with the body of a frog. With some varieties of pathology, the child’s chin constantly rests on his chest.
A photo of a baby with short neck syndrome is presented.
Complications
As a result of such violations, difficulties arise when swallowing and breathing. In addition, specialists can identify unwanted changes in eye color and skin. As the baby grows, characteristic signs of spinal curvature begin to appear.
Deformations provoked by the disease negatively affect the root of the spinal cord. A similar clinical picture can provoke serious deviations. For example, the most dangerous complication of the disease is the malfunctioning of the nervous system, developmental delay, strabismus.
So, the baby has a short neck, what should I do?
If this pathology is detected in a child, it is important to start therapy immediately. In order to eliminate the pathology, conservative methods are used, physiotherapy exercises. Positive dynamics can also be achieved with massage. However, the doctor must first analyze the feasibility of using any of these methods.
Shants collar application
The indicated device may be indicated for use by an osteopath. The Shantz collar is a special bandage that is applied to the neck area. With it, it becomes possible to fix all the vertebrae. Wearing such a device can significantly improve blood circulation.
The possibility of using an orthopedic collar and the duration of the course should be determined by a specialist. It will be selected taking into account the nature, as well as the severity of the pathology. In order to eliminate the weak manifestations of the disease, wearing the device for only half an hour a day will be sufficient. In some cases, doctors recommend wearing a collar constantly, not taking off even at night. The course of therapy can vary and take 2-4 weeks.
How to choose?
Choosing Shants collar should be based on the weight of the child and other parameters of his body. It is necessary that it is fully adjacent to the neck of the patient. Otherwise, you may not get the expected result.
It is necessary to put on a bandage so that the chin is fixed with a specially created recess for it. For fixing in the back there are special fasteners in the form of Velcro. Parents should check to see if there is a single finger gap between the collar and the child’s neck. If required, the location can be changed using the fasteners.
If there is a need to use a bandage, put it on the baby’s neck immediately after birth. Often such a collar is used as a prophylactic if the specialist doubts the presence of pathology. When conducting a massage or exercise therapy as directed by a doctor, the device is temporarily removed.
It is important to remember that the collar is constantly in contact with the skin of the baby, so parents need to properly care for him. This will prevent skin irritation. It should be washed exclusively by hand in cool water. When dried, it can be completely straightened. It is not recommended to dry the bandage in close proximity to heating devices. It is an orthopedic device, therefore, the risk of its damage increases.
If irritation appears on the skin of the neck, it is recommended to lubricate the damaged areas with baby cream before putting on the collar.
In the photo, the short neck of the baby is not always possible to discern.
Other treatments
Often, experts in order to eliminate pathological phenomena recommend electrophoresis. Ions of drugs with this procedure can be evenly distributed throughout the child's body. When electrophoresis is used mainly painkillers. After the procedure is completed, the bandage should again be put on the neck of the child.
What else is used in the treatment of short neck syndrome in infants?
Physiotherapy
It is possible to achieve the desired result faster with the help of physiotherapy exercises. In addition to the full course of therapy, the child is shown hardening. This allows you to stop the process of further curving posture.
Massage
Massage with a short neck in the baby also has a positive effect, but only if it is conducted by an experienced specialist who can effectively eliminate strong muscle strain. The session should begin with light strokes. Attention should be paid to the muscles of the neck and shoulders. So the specialist must perform certain exercises aimed at the development of certain departments and sections of the spinal column. In addition, limbs should be massaged.
The need for surgery
When diagnosing a genetically determined symptom of a short neck in an infant, confirmed by examination, a child may be shown surgical intervention. It is prescribed if a high degree of compression is found in the area of the spinal roots. The operation is performed after analgesia with analgesics. When the operation is completed, one can hope for a complete restoration of the mobility of the neck.
When a short neck syndrome is detected in a baby, it is important for parents to remain calm. Undoubtedly, the child will need more attention and care for a speedy recovery. It is necessary to strictly follow all the instructions of specialists. In this case, the neck will become mobile for a short period of time. A visual defect can only be eliminated at an older age.
It is impossible to predict complications with this pathology. For example, after a disease, the likelihood of developing disorders in the activity of the kidneys increases. In addition, increased neck tone will last a lifetime. With the untimely elimination of hypoxia, the organs of vision, the brain can be damaged. The back will begin to deform in this case, against which the mobility of the cervical spine will be significantly reduced.
Negative consequences can be excluded only if the child has undergone a complete diagnosis and is constantly under the supervision of doctors. Relatives of the baby are also recommended to undergo a genetic examination, as it is likely that they will later have a child with a similar defect.
Conclusion
Modern medicine has a huge range of corrective techniques to completely prevent future negative consequences. In this regard, parents should not immediately become desperate. There is a high probability that with proper treatment, the child will be able to lead a full life and even get rid of external neck defects.