Eagle syndrome and vascular complications-a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Neurology
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Eagle syndrome, characterized by an elongated styloid process, can lead to rare vascular complications.
• Understanding these complications is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective management.

Approach:

• A systematic review was conducted to analyze the occurrence, characteristics, and management outcomes of vascular complications in Eagle syndrome.
• Data from 150 studies involving 231 patients were synthesized.

Key Points:

• Arterial impingement (67.5%) was more common than venous impingement (32.5%).
• Stroke was the most frequent arterial complication (46.8%), while chronic headache was the most common venous complication (68%).
• Styloidectomy achieved a 78.5% cure rate with low recurrence, whereas medical management had a 47.2% recurrence rate.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians should consider Eagle syndrome in patients presenting with classic symptoms and neurovascular issues.
• Measuring styloid length is recommended for diagnosis.
• Styloidectomy is the preferred treatment for optimal outcomes and reduced recurrence in vascular complications of Eagle syndrome.