Modern approaches to diagnosis and treatment of Eagle’s syndrome

Abstract

Stylohyoid syndrome (Eagle Sterling syndrome) – a complex of symptoms caused by the change in the position, shape and size of the styloideus process and (or) calcification of the stylohyoideus and submucosal ligaments, resulting in irritation of the dorsal and posterior process and muscle structures. As a rule, this disease is not diagnosed because of the low awareness of practitioners. Patients with different diagnoses are treated by different specialists: dentists, ENTs, neurologists, and prolonged symptomatic treatment is ineffective. In patients with the presence of Eagle Sterling syndrome impaired performance is present and dramatically reduced quality of life, which determines the social significance and relevance of problem of diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Materials and methods: During the period from 2009 to 2020 in the department of inflammatory diseases of ENT-organs of the State Institution «O.S. Kolomiychenko Institute of Otolaryngology of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine» 13 persons with this pathology (10 men and 3 women) aged from 25 to 60 years, who turned to our institution after unsuccessful treatment by a neurologist, dentist and specialists of other related specialties, were examined and operated. 3 people were diagnosed with a stylo-carotid and in 10 – stylopharyngeal type of SHS. Surgical removal of styloideus process of the temporal bone, depending on the anatomical features of the styloideus process, was performed by external access at the anterior edge of the nodding muscle (10 patients) or transoral access (3 patients). Results: No patients were observed in the postoperative period, the wounds healed with primary intention. The disappearance of the pain syndrome a few days after surgery was noted in 7 patients, in others complaints it persisted up to 1 month, while there was a positive trend, and only 1 patient remained the intensity and nature of the pain syndrome. Thus, patients with the Eagle’s syndrome have a high effect of surgical treatment and relatively short postoperative rehabilitation, which significantly improves their quality of life.