Eagle Syndrome, (Long Styloid Process) A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

This book describes Eagle Syndrome, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases

This internet health headline prompted me to find out about Eagle Syndrome.
“A Father forced to Google his symptoms after 150 GP appointments failed to correctly diagnose his rare throat syndrome – Eagle Syndrome.”
I thought that I have to read and write about this condition if so many doctors have failed to diagnose this father's illness.

Eagle syndrome is a rare disorder that creates pain in the throat and face.
This pain comes from problems caused by an abnormally long styloid process bone, which is a pointy bone just beneath the ear.
The pain may also be due to the stylohyoid ligament connecting it to the hyoid bone in the neck.
The pain caused by Eagle syndrome is a form of nerve pain, which means it is caused by abnormal nerve signals, not injury to the painful area.
The pain is normally a dull and throbbing ache that may involve a feeling that something is stuck in the throat.
Some people also have tinnitus and neck pain.
About 4 percent of the population has an abnormally long styloid process
Only between 4 and 10 % of these people have any symptoms.
Causes
Eagle syndrome is produced by either an abnormally long styloid process or a calcified stylohyoid ligament.
Doctors are not definite about what causes either one of these.
In most people, an elongated styloid process bone is the cause in Eagle syndrome.
Some people form a long styloid process after a throat injury or surgery.
In others, this is just an anatomical difference or a change linked to age.
An elongated styloid process may place pressure on the throat and compress nearby nerves or blood vessels, inducing pain.
Other causes are:
Tonsillectomy
Calcification of the stylohyoid ligament
Symptoms
Many people have an abnormally-shaped styloid process but no symptoms.
The main symptom of Eagle syndrome is pain normally on one side of the neck, jaw and throat.
The pain may be constant or intermittent.
It is often worse when the patient yawns or moves or turns the head.
The patient may also feel the pain spread toward the ear
Other symptoms:
1.Headaches
2.Dizziness
3.Difficulty swallowing
4.A feeling that there is something stuck in the throat
5.A persisting ringing or buzzing in the ears
Diagnosis
Diagnosing Eagle syndrome is difficult because it shares symptoms with many other disorders.
The doctor will probably start by feeling the head and neck for any signs of an abnormally long styloid process
The doctor may also use a CT scan or X-ray to get a better view of the region around the styloid process and stylohyoid ligament.
Treatment
Surgery is a frequent and successful treatment for Eagle syndrome
Eagle syndrome is often treated by reducing the length of the styloid process with surgery.
This surgery, called a styloidectomy, can be performed through the mouth or neck.
Surgery through the mouth needs removal of the tonsils, and it can be more difficult for the surgeon to access the styloid process.
Surgery through the neck provides better access to the styloid process but will cause a scar.
It can also injure the surrounding parts of the body and nerves of the face
Endoscopic surgery is also a frequent treatment of choice for Eagle syndrome.
Endoscopic surgery is much less dangerous than traditional surgery, permitting for faster recovery and fewer risks.
Most patients were satisfied with the appearance of the small cut afterward
If the patient has other disorders that make surgery risky, the doctor can treat:
NSAIDs for pain
Antidepressants
Anticonvulsants
Steroids and their injections
Local anesthetics
Eagle syndrome is a type of nerve pain so massage, exercise will not help.

TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Eagle Syndrome
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Torticollis
Chapter 8 Trigeminal Neuralgia
Epilogue