Clinical study on the different surgical therapies for the treatment of styloid process syndrome either via trans-cervical approach or via intra-oral way

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of different surgical therapies for the treatment of styloid process syndrome either via trans-cervical approach or via intra-oral way based on a comparative study among these different surgical therapies with their advantages and disadvantages. Methods Included in this study were 165 patients with styloid process syndrome,with 130 cases of them treated via the trans-cervical approach including 50 out of these 130 operated on in both sides,33 cases of them treated via the intra-oral way including 18 out of these 33 operated on in both sides as well,and the rest 2 cases operated on by a combined way with trans-cervical approach and via intra-oral way with one of them simultaneously undergone glosspharyngeal nerve-combing to treat his glosso- pharyngeal neuralgia accompanied with the styloid process lesion.Then,all these cases were followed up to observe their response to different surgical therapies,with a comparison on the clinical date col- lected before and after the operation.Results In the 130 patients received the operation via trans-cer- vical approach,the averaged volume of bleeding was 10ml,with an incidence of complications being 4.61%,the cut down length of styloid process being 2.04±0.71cm and the effective rate being 93.1%.In the 33 patients performed the operation via intra-oral approach,the averaged volume of bleeding was 80ml,with an incidence of complications being 6.06 %,the cut down length of styloid process being 1.81±1.05cm and the effective rate being 84.8%.The rest 2 patients received the op- eration via a combining way showed improved symptoms following the therapy.Conclusions These two surgical approaches are both effective for the treatment of styloid process syndrome,with very sim- ilar therapeutic effects and incidence of complications.The decision in the choice of surgical approach should depend upon several factors,such as the situation of styloid process as revealed by palpation,the clinical experience of operator with the surgery and the patients' desire for the incision.