Ernest syndrome and Eagle syndrome are two distinct temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) that have similar symptoms. Both conditions can cause facial pain, but the reason for this is different.
The two conditions are sometimes confused due to symptom similarity. Knowing how to tell them apart is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Ernest syndrome, also known as stylomandibular ligament syndrome, involves inflammation or irritation of the stylomandibular ligament. Dr. Walter Ernest first described this condition in the late 1900s.
Key characteristics of Ernest syndrome include:
- pain at the back corner of your lower jaw
- discomfort that may reach your temporomandibular joint (near your earlobe where your jaw meets your skull)
- pain triggered by jaw movement
- tenderness at the stylomandibular ligament attachment
Eagle syndrome, also called stylohyoid syndrome, results from a small neck bone called the styloid that grows very long or from calcification of the stylohyoid ligament. The syndrome was first documented by Dr. Watt W. Eagle in 1937.
Primary features of Eagle syndrome include:
- throat pain that may spread to your ear
- difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- feeling that something is stuck in your throat
- pain that worsens when you turn your head
- vascular complications in severe cases
Patients with Eagle syndrome may experience facial pain and cranial nerve compression due to an elongated styloid bone.
Distinguishing between these syndromes typically involves examination and imaging studies:
- Ernest syndrome is diagnosed through feeling the stylomandibular ligament attachment and determining where and when pain occurs
- Eagle syndrome is confirmed through radiography, which can show if you have a long styloid bone (typically >30mm) or stylohyoid ligament calcification.
Management strategies differ based on your specific diagnosis:
Ernest syndrome treatment options:
- conservative therapies, including physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications
- local anesthetic injections at the ligament attachment site
- surgical intervention if other treatments do not work
Eagle syndrome treatment options:
- conservative management for mild cases
- styloidectomy (surgical removal of the styloid bone)
- partial styloid bone resection in some cases
Proper differentiation between Ernest syndrome and Eagle syndrome is essential, as misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment.
If you have orofacial pain and standard TMD treatments have not been effective, it may be due to one of these conditions.