To evaluate the effect of Eagle syndrome treatment by styloid resection from extraoral approach combined with antidepressants therapy.

32 patients with Eagle syndrome got a score over 49 in a self-rating depression scale preoperatively, and they were all diagnosed as depression. All patients underwent resection of the elongated styloid processes under general anesthesia via an extra-oral approach, furthermore 16 patients in the experiment group were treated with fluoxetine 20 mg/day for 3 weeks postoperatively, which was not used in the control group. Beside this, other treatment were all the same. They were all followed for 12-36 months for the comparation of their treatment effect.

No surgical complications were observed. The cure rate in the experiment group is 93.8% whichin the control group is 68.8%. No complications occurred in any patient with depression medicine intervention. All patients had satisfactory cosmetic results and no paresthesias.

Dissection of styloid process via an extra-oral approach is operationable and reliable, as depression is one of the main problems in patients with Eagle syndrome, dissection of styloid process combined with antidepressants (fluoxetine) is preferred for treating Eagle syndrome.