title: A rare differential diagnosis to occupational neck pain: bilateral stylohyoid syndrome.
abstract: Chronic neck pain is widely prevalent and a common source of disability in the working-age population. Etiology of chronic neck pain includes neck sprain, mechanical or muscular neck pain, myofascial pain syndrome, postural neck pain as well as pain due to degenerative changes. We report the case of a 42 year old secretary, complaining about a longer history of neck pain and limited movement of the cervical spine. Surprisingly, the adequate radiologic examination revealed a bilateral ossification of the stylohyoid ligament complex. Her symptoms remained intractable from conservative treatment consisting of anti-inflammatory medication as well as physical therapy. Hence the patient was admitted to surgical resection of the ossified stylohyoid ligament complex. Afterwards she was free of any complaints and went back to work. Therefore, ossification of the stylohyoid ligament complex causing severe neck pain and movement disorder should be regarded as a rare differential diagnosis of occupational related neck pain.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Arbeitsmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Charité der Freien Universität Berlin und der Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Ostpreussendamm 111, 12207 Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Gertrud
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik-Innenstadt der Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Nussbaumstrasse 20, 80336 München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Chlodwig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Radiologie, Maximilians-Universität, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Marchioninistraße 15, 81377 München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buhmann
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik-Innenstadt der Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Nussbaumstrasse 20, 80336 München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Karl-Georg
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Kanz
authors.affiliation: Institut für Arbeitsmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Charité der Freien Universität Berlin und der Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Ostpreussendamm 111, 12207 Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Klinik und Poliklinik-Innenstadt der Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Nussbaumstrasse 20, 80336 München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.affiliation: Institut für Arbeitsmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Charité der Freien Universität Berlin und der Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Ostpreussendamm 111, 12207 Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Rainer Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kichhoff