Treatment of hyoid bone syndrome with surgical excision: our monocentric experience in the past five years

Purpose

In 1968, Steinmann described the hyoid bone syndrome as a degenerative and inflammatory insertion tendinosis. It causes unilateral pain in the neck, increased by swallowing and palpation. The treatment is conservative, but when this fails, surgery is an option. Our aim is to assess the post-operative outcome of patients for whom a surgical hyoid bone resection procedure was performed in the University Hospital of Antwerp (UZA).

Methods

A retrospective study was performed. Patients were seen at the laryngology clinic in the UZA from 2018 until 2023. They were diagnosed with the hyoid bone syndrome based on anamnesis and clinical examination. Pre-operative imaging was performed to evaluate for anatomical changes and fiberoptic laryngoscopy performed to exclude other causes. Pre- and postoperative VAS pain scores were questioned.

Results

Seventeen patients were operated, two of them bilaterally. All patients had pain located to the affected side, and almost half of patients (n = 7) had dysphagia. On imaging, 10 patients had an elongated styloid process and 7 had calcification of the stylohyoid ligament. All patients underwent resection of the greater horn of the hyoid bone, 13 patients underwent resection of the stylohyoid ligament and in 9 patients the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage was removed. Mean pre-operative VAS pain score was 9 (/10) and mean postoperative score was 1.3 (/10).

Conclusion

Our preliminary results show a good clinical effect of the surgical excision procedure and offer insight in the hyoid bone syndrome. Follow-up is necessary to assess the long-term results and potential recurrence of symptoms.