Table 1 Characteristics of study sample*

Age (years) – median (IQR; 5° − 95°)

5.7 (5.8; 0.5–13.9)

Males – no. (%)

757 (54)

Triage

 - Code Red – no. (%)

 - Code Yellow/Orange/Blue – no. (%)

 - Code Green – no. (%)

 - Code White – no. (%)

0 (0)

130 (9.2)

1114 (79.1)

163 (11.6)

History of trauma – no. (%)

393 (27.9)

Time from onset to referral (days) – median (IQR; 5° – 95° centile)

Time from onset to referral (< 24 h) – no. (%)

0 (0; 0–14)

822 (58.3)

Clinical presentation – no. (%)

 - Head deviation

  - to the right

  - to the left

 - Pain

 - Sore throat

 - Fever (> 38 °C)

 - Cervical tumefaction/lymphadenopathy

 - Headache

 - Earache

 - Vomiting

 - Dizziness/vertigo

 - Other

1179 (83.7)

434 (36.8)

745 (63.2)

1176 (83.5)

225 (16.0)

159 (11.3)

90 (6.4)

72 (5.1)

69 (4.9)

44 (3.1)

19 (1.3)

125 (8.9)

Laboratory workup

 - WBC (cells/µl) – median (IQR; 5° – 95°)

 - Neutrophils (%) – median (IQR; 5° – 95°)

 - Leukocytosis – no. (%)*

 - CRP ≥ 0.5 mg/dl – no. (%)*

9520

(5550; 5110–19,390)

57.7

(25.5; 23.2–83.5)

68 (30.9)

106 (49.8)

Medical imaging – no. (%)

 - Radiography

  with findings

 - CT scan

  with findings

 - Ultrasound

  with findings

 - MRI

  with findings

663 (47.1)

395 (28.0)

82 (20.8)

175 (12.4)

82 (46.9)

165 (11.7)

111 (67.3)

76 (5.4)

42 (55.3)

Specialist consultation – no. (%)

 - Orthopedic

 - Neurologist

 - Otolaryngologist

 - Neurosurgeon

 - Ophthalmologist

 - Oncologist

 - Anesthesiologist

 - Other

359 (25.5)

231 (16.4)

112 (7.9)

49 (3.5)

37 (2.6)

35 (2.5)

16 (1.1)

7 (0.5)

29 (2.1)

Treatment of torticollis – no. (%)

 - Ibuprofen

 - Acetaminophen

 - Antibiotics

 - Cervical collar

 - Surgery – no. (%)

1255 (89.1)

1121 (79.6)

111 (7.9)

125 (8.9)

806 (57.2)

18 (1.3)

Hospitalization – no. (%)

Hospitalization (days) – median (IQR; 5° − 95°)

Sequelae – no. (%)

156 (11.1)

4 (4; 1–22)

29 (2.1)