Stylohyoid complex ossification in temporomandibular disorder: A case-control study

Statement of problem Stylohyoid complex ossification (SCO) can be associated with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). However, this subject is poorly investigated in epidemiological studies. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the association between TMD and SCO. Material and methods Seventy-eight individuals with TMD and 93 control individuals without TMD were enrolled in a case-control study and paired according to age and gender. Panoramic radiographs were made of all participants, and SCO was measured in millimeters (mm) by a blinded researcher. Ossification was held to begin at measurements of 30 mm or more. The association between symptoms (pain upon swallowing or turning the head and the sensation of a foreign body in the throat) and SCO was investigated. Pearson chi-square tests were used for the comparison of proportions, (α=.05). Results A total of 44.9% of those with TMD and 46.2% of the control population exhibited SCO ( P =.858). TMD was associated with pain upon swallowing ( P