title: 'Stylo-mandibular complex' fracture from a maxillofacial surgeon's perspective--review of the literature and proposal of a management algorithm.
abstract: The incidence of fractures of styloid process, either in isolation or association with mandibular fractures, is rare, and frequently overlooked. When present, they pose clinical dilemma in diagnosis and management. Proper management of styloid fractures is essential, not just to alleviate the patients' symptoms, but also to prevent potential complications like post-traumatic styloid syndrome and injury to adjacent vital structures. This article features a review of literature on 'styloid fracture concomitant with mandibular fracture' along with a case report. The article explores the biomechanics resulting in styloid fracture especially when co-existing with mandibular fractures. The article also enumerates the clinical features of this unusual clinical phenomenon and aims at rationalizing the need for its medical or surgical management. A simple protocol for the management of 'stylo-mandibular complex' fracture has been proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, SRM Dental College & Hospital, Ramapuram Campus, Ramapuram, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gayathri
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, SRM Dental College & Hospital, Ramapuram Campus, Ramapuram, Chennai, India. Electronic address: elavenilomfs@gmail.com.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elavenil
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, SRM Dental College & Hospital, Ramapuram Campus, Ramapuram, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sasikala
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, SRM Dental College & Hospital, Ramapuram Campus, Ramapuram, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pathumai
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, SRM Dental College & Hospital, Ramapuram Campus, Ramapuram, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: V B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Krishnakumar Raja
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D008337:Mandibular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000066794:Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic
keywords: biomechanics; mandibular angle fracture; stylo-mandibular complex fracture; styloid process fracture