Eagle Syndrome

The Eagle syndrome is a condition that is characterized by pain in the mouth, throat, head, neck and face.

The pain is caused by calcification and hardening of the stylohyoid ligament that connects the styloid process to the hyoid bone in the neck.

The condition typically occurs after an injury or trauma to the neck or pharynx or after an operation involving the neck area such as tonsillectomy. Scar tissues near the tonsillectomy incision is thought to compress and stretch the nearby blood vessels and nerves in the retrostyloid compartment and affect the glossopharyngeal nerve and perivascular carotid sympathetic fibers.

Symptoms are:

• A nagging or dull pain in the throat, head, neck and face.
• Pain persist over a longer period.
• Pain in the ear on the same side as the pain in the head, neck and face.
• Sensation that there is something stuck in the throat.
• Pain on swallowing.
• Hoarseness.
• Excessive salivation or drooling.

Do not manipulate in the area!