Styloid-stylohyoid syndrome: a rare cause of cranio-facial pain-a retrospective case series of 12 patients.

Abstract

Elongated styloid process results in severe cranio-facial/cervico-facial pain. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of treatment outcomes using transcervical approach in the management of styloid-stylohyoid syndrome/styloid syndrome. This is a retrospective cohort study. Subjects were enrolled from out-patient clinics reporting between the periods Jan 2016-Jan 2018. Twelve patients diagnosed with styloid syndrome based on history, thorough clinical workup, and assessment were included in the study. The primary outcomes-improvement in pain and regression of chief complaints following surgery were assessed. Elongated styloid was resected using transcervical approach under general anesthesia. The intra-operative lengths of the styloid process varied from 40 to 43mm. No post-operative complications were encountered and the symptoms regressed completely after surgery in all the patients at follow-up of 6months. Transcervical styloidectomy is an effective treatment for exposure and resection of the styloid process with minimal complications in patients with stylo-stylohyoid syndrome.