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Hyoid bone syndrome masquerading as temporomandibular joint dysfunction

Anson Jose1, Shakil Ahmed Nagori2, Saurabh Arya3

  • 1Faculty, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Army Dental Centre (Research & Referral), New Delhi-10, India.

The British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
|May 6, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Hyoid bone syndrome, a cause of cervicofacial pain, involves degeneration of the hyoid bone. Steroid injections at the hyoid bone effectively resolved temporomandibular joint pain in four patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Pain Management
  • Anatomy

Background:

  • Hyoid bone syndrome is a cervicofacial pain condition linked to the degeneration of the hyoid bone's greater cornu at the stylohyoid ligament attachment.
  • Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain can originate from hyoid bone issues, often presenting as deep, dull, aching pain.
  • Conservative treatments frequently fail to alleviate pain associated with hyoid bone syndrome.

Observation:

  • Four patients presented with persistent TMJ pain radiating from the hyoid bone's greater cornu.
  • Diagnostic methods included local anesthetic blocks and digital palpation of the hyoid bone's greater cornu.
  • Symptoms were refractory to conventional pain management strategies.

Findings:

  • Methylprednisolone injections (40 mg/ml) administered at the greater cornu of the hyoid bone led to complete symptom resolution in all four patients.
  • No postoperative complications were reported following the methylprednisolone injections.
  • The treatment demonstrated significant efficacy in managing hyoid bone syndrome-related pain.

Implications:

  • Oral and maxillofacial surgeons should include hyoid bone syndrome in their differential diagnosis for orofacial pain.
  • This condition, though less documented, is a crucial consideration for temporomandibular disorders.
  • Targeted corticosteroid injections offer a viable and effective treatment for refractory hyoid bone syndrome.

Keywords:
Facial painHyoid boneSteroids

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