title: Stylalgia: an Indian perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main objective was to study the stylalgia profile in Indians and the outcome of styloidectomy in such cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was carried out by random selection of patients with stylalgia using periodic random numbers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a hospital-based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical excision of the symptomatic enlarged styloid process was performed by the transtonsillar route using a dilation and curettage (D and C) curette.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were followed postoperatively for their pain relief.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 40 patients operated on, 31 (77.5%) became symptom free, 5 (12.5%) had considerable improvement in their symptoms, and 4 (10%) had no relief.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of an enlarged styloid process was found to be higher in an Indian rural population with female preponderance owing to their carrying of heavy weight on head. Styloidectomy was very rewarding. The D and C curette was found to be a very effective instrument for styloidectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Pt. B.D. Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak (Haryana), India.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chanda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gera
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Yadav
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000379:methods; D005156:Facial Neuralgia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008022:Ligaments / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D014066:Palatine Tonsil; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology