A Case of Eagle's Syndrome after Blunt Neck Trauma / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

Eagle's syndrome has various symptoms at cervico-facial lesion. Recently, we have experienced a case of Eagle's syndrome that developed after a blunt neck trauma. A 51-year-old man presented with a click sound when he turned his head to the right. The symptom had developed after a traffic accident that occurred 2 months ago. Physical examination revealed a long styloid process that was easily palpable and burging out into the right tonsillar fossa. Radiologic examination did not reveal any presence of fracture on stylohyoid complex including stylohyoid ligament. We underwent a transoral resection of styloid process and released a stylohyoid ligament. The patient immediately experienced a relief of the symptom following the operation. It might be elucidated that the patient had an elongated styloid process and that the neck trauma had developed due to the dislocation or pseudoarticulation between stylohyoid ligament and the hyoid bone. Transoral resection of styloid process released pseudoarticulation and relieved the symptom.