Q68: Other congenital musculoskeletal deformities

Q68.0: Congenital deformity of sternocleidomastoid muscle

On each side of the neck there is a muscle that we use to bend and turn our head to the side. In your case this muscle has an unusual shape. This condition is congenital, which means you were born with it. The muscle may be shorter or contract more than normal. When the muscle contracts or is shorter than normal, it pulls the head over to that side. At the same time, your face turns slightly to your healthy side. You may be able to feel the contracted muscle as a thickening of the neck.