Hello, I am pretty new to ES. Can anyone share if they know if the ligaments that connect to the hyoid bone must be severed along with the calcified overgrowth being removed during the surgery? I thought only the calcified “fangs” (as I call them) needs to be removed, but do not understand why attachments to the hyoid bone must be cut. Does this vary from surgeon to surgeon?
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The ligaments which go from the styloids to the hyoid bone (stylo-hyoid ligaments) have to be detached from the styloid so that it can be shortened or cut right back to the skull base. If they’re calcified then they should be taken out as well. But for them to be removed at the hyoid end would need a larger incision, so if there’s not calcification at the hyoid end, it’s easier to leave them in.
Does that make sense?
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It’s not that easy to dissect the bone but leave the ligament intact in that space. I’d recommend watching some surgery/corpse dissection videos on what the body looks like inside.
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In case it’s helpful, in agreement with @Jules and others here, Dr. Constantino says that he “dissects upward, not down to hyoid bone”. I don’t think he cuts all the way down to the hyoid bone.
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