Eagle's Syndrome: An Underdiagnosed Condition-Case Series in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Abstract

To evaluate all the cases of chronic neck pain thoroughly to diagnose eagle's syndrome. Hospital based prospective study done in the department of otorhinolaryngology at our tertiary care hospital from January 2017 to December 2018. We selected 60 subjects in our study who presented to us with complaints of chronic neck pain associated with referred otalgia, along with aggravation of pain with neck movements, odynophagia, throat pain and foreign body sensation in the throat. After thorough clinical examination an orthopantomogram has been done which revealed elongated styloid process. Conservative management with carbamazepine was tried but only temporary relief was noticed in these patients. Hence intra oral tonsillo-styloidectomy was done and patients were followed up to 3months. Out of 10 patients, 9 were female and 1 was male. 8 patients had bilateral elongated styloid process and 2 patients had unilateral elongation. Orthopantomogram revealed an average elongation of styloid process of 3.5-5cm and the average length of the removed styloid process ranged from 0.6-3cm. All patients showed significant improvement post operatively. Eagle's syndrome is not a rarity, but underdiagnosed and missed most of the times. Hence all cases of chronic neck pain should be evaluated thoroughly by taking complete history and proper clinical examination, along with radiological investigations.