Morphometric Study of Styloid Process and its Clinical Importance on Eagle's Syndrome

Abstract

Background: The styloid process is a slender bony process that projects downwards from the inferior surface of the temporal bone and gives attachment to muscles and ligaments. The aim of the present study is to determine the anatomical morphometry of the styloid process and to study about the elongated styloid process (Eagle’s syndrome). Materials and Method: An observational study was carried out on 60 dry adult human skulls which were used from the Department of Anatomy, Saveetha Dental College, Chennai, India, to study the morphometry of styloid process and its elongation. Length more than 30mm was considered as an elongated styloid process. A Vernier calliper was used for the measurement. Result: The average length of the styloid process was 9.3mm (right) and 8.9mm (left) and the average of dry human skulls having an elongated styloid process was 3.3%. Conclusion: Anatomical knowledge of the styloid process and elongated styloid process is clinically important because of its close relation to important neurovascular structures. The present study highlights the importance of styloid process in patients with symptoms of Eagle’s Syndrome as it is useful for physicians, radiologists and neurosurgeons.