Treatment of Eagle’s Syndrome By Intended Fracture of The Styloid Process: Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Eagle's syndrome is a symptomatic condition of the long styloid process which radiates to the ear, temporomandibular joint region and presents as facial-neck pain. Diagnosis is usually made by palpation of the styloid process in the tonsillar fossa and three-dimensional computed tomography. Both surgical and conservative treatments can be used in the treatment. Manual fracture of the styloid process may be an alternative treatment for patients who refuse surgical treatment.The first patient, a 36-year-old male, was admitted with the complaint of dysphagia. The second patient, a 29-year-old male, was admitted with the complaint of pain and foreign body sensation in the throat. In both patients, clinical examination revealed increased pain on palpation of the tonsillar fossa. OPG showed elongated styloid processes.These findings together with clinical manifestations established diagnosis of ES. Since both patients refused surgical resection, we preferred fracturing the elongated processes by digital pressure. Procedures were performed under conscious sedation. Post-operative periods were uneventful, and patients reported significant regression in their symptoms at 3-months follow-up. This procedure may be a minimally invasive and successful treatment modality in patients who refused the surgical resection. However, long-term close follow-up of these patients is recommended to evaluate the outcomes of the treatment.

Keywords

• Eagle’s syndrome
• fracture
• styloid

References

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