Abnormal Head Posture

Abnormal head posture (AHP) is an important clinical sign which may be due to non-ocular or ocular causes. Because of disperse data in the literature, this review of articles was performed. Data base search with the keywords "abnormal head posture" was performed from 1975 to 2004. The main etiologies of AHP, case reports with specific causes, therapeutic interventions, and any significant points regarding AHP were gathered. An AHP should alert the examiner to search for various conditions and its proper interpretation is an important step in diagnosis and therapy. Ocular causes should be ruled out in any case of AHP. AHP due to ocular causes can be observed in conditions related to extraocular motility or may occur to increase quality of visual acuity or visual field. Comitant and incomitant deviations, supranuclear palsies, A and V patterns, nystagmus, and central nervous system disorders are causes of ocular torticolis. Facial asymmetry can be a feature of a long-standing congenital or acquired AHP.