Eagle Syndrome Presenting after Blunt Trauma

Abstract

As classically described, Eagle syndrome is an entity where patients develop pain or neurologic manifestations arising from an elongated styloid process and/or an ossified stylohyoid ligament irritating or compressing adjacent cranial nerves or the carotid arteries. Over the past few years, there have been reports of actual injury to the internal carotid artery with dissection, occlusion, and strokes. We present 3 cases identified after blunt trauma: 1 due to carotid compression and 2 due to actual injury to the internal carotid artery. Eagle syndrome should be a consideration in any patient with a carotid injury due to blunt trauma or suffering a syncopal episode which led to blunt trauma. Carotid stenting is an effective treatment modality for injury to the carotid artery when anticoagulation is contraindicated. Styloidectomy is performed for symptoms due to carotid artery compression or if there is concern for future carotid injury from the styloid process.