title: Spontaneous fracture of an ossified stylohyoid ligament.
abstract: The stylohyoid ligament extends from the styloid process to the hyoid bone. For an unknown reason it occasionally ossifies and forms a solid structure which can break because of trauma or even spontaneously. Symptoms of the fracture may mimic tumours, foreign bodies, infections or neuralgia. In our cases a spontaneous fracture of totally ossified stylohyoid ligaments presented as a painful neck swelling. The diagnosis was achieved by an ortopantomographic radiograph. In both cases the healing was spontaneous and complete.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jyväskylä Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blomgren
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qvarnberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Valtonen
mesh_terms: D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013701:Temporal Bone