Infants born withdrawing from opioids due to drug exposure in utero may have a higher risk of developing an abnormal twisting of the neck known as torticollis, according to a study published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
For the study, researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center followed 758 infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome due to in utero opioid exposure over a five-year period .
Eighty-seven infants were diagnosed with torticollis, representing an 11.1 percent incidence rate. Many of the infants who developed this abnormality also concurrently experienced plagiocephaly, which is a flattening of the head. The most recent estimates of torticollis rates among the general public — published in 1994 — were 0.3 to 1.9 percent.
"Awareness of these potential issues in this population is essential as torticollis may not develop for several months after the infant has been discharged from the hospital," said Jenny McAllister, MD, the lead author of the study, a physician at Cincinnati Children's and co-director of the hospital's Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Long-term Follow-up Clinic. "If preventive measures are performed, such as occupational and physical therapy, torticollis and plagiocephaly may be avoided and potentially prevent developmental delays."
More articles on opioids:
Autopsy reveals Tom Petty died from opioid-related overdose: 5 things to know
Risk of opioid misuse jumps 44% with each refill, study finds
8 recent opioid epidemic lawsuits