Ahmet DURSUN, Elif AYAZOĞLU DEMİR, Veysel Atilla AYYILDIZ, Yadigar KASTAMONİ, Kenan ÖZTÜRK, SONER ALBAY

Morphometry of the hyoid bone: a radiological anatomy study

Objectives: The hyoid bone occupies a strategic position and participates in vital functions. The aim of this study was to examine the morphometry of the hyoid bone and define its location according to the vertebral level on 3D computed tomography (CT) images. Methods: This study was conducted using 3D–CT images of 216 patients (104 males, 112 females) aged between 10–98 years. The vertebral level of the hyoid bone was determined for each decade. Furthermore, the anterior-posterior length of the hyoid bone, the length and height of the greater horn, the height and width of the body, the distance between the posterior ends of the greater horn, and the distance of the hyoid bone to the vertebral column and the angle between right and left greater horn was measured. Results: The hyoid bone was most commonly located at C3 and C2–C3 vertebral level in females (35.7%) and C3 in males (38.5%). No statistically significant difference was found between right and left sides concerning the length and height of the greater horn. Conclusion: Knowing the radiological anatomy, morphometric properties and vertebral levels of the hyoid bone will contribute to the surgical planning of this region and the hyoid bone. In addition, our study will provide data on the morphometric properties of hyoid bone in forensic and anthropological research.

Keywords:

greater horn, lesser horn, morphometry, computed tomography,

PDF

___

Soerdjbalie-Maikoe V, Van Rijn RR. Embryology, normal anatomy, and imaging techniques of the hyoid and larynx with respect to forensic purposes: a review article. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2008;4:132–9.
Mukhopadhyay PP. Determination of sex from an autopsy sample of adult hyoid bones. Med Sci Law 2012;52:152–5.
Fakhry N, Puymerail L, Michel J, Santini L, Lebreton-Chakour C, Robert D, Giovanni A, Adalian P, Dessi P. Analysis of hyoid bone using 3D geometric morphometrics: an anatomical study and discussion of potential clinical implications. Dysphagia 2013;28:435–5.
Auvenshine RC, Pettit NJ. The hyoid bone: an overview. Cranio 2020;38:6–14.
Kraaijenga SAC, van der Molen L, Heemsbergen WD, Remmerswaal GB, Hilgers FJM, van den Brekel MWM. Hyoid bone displacement as parameter for swallowing impairment in patients treated for advanced head and neck cancer. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2017;274:597–606.
Stern N, Jackson-Menaldi C, Rubin AD. Hyoid bone syndrome: a retrospective review of 84 patients treated with triamcinolone acetonide injections. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2013;122:159–62.
Bhide AR, Dehadray AY. Excision of the greater cornu of the hyoid in hyoid syndrome. Auris Nasus Larynx 1980;7:1–6.
Kasprzak H, Podbielska H, von Bally G, Fechner G. Biomechanical investigation of the hyoid bone using speckle interferometry. Int J Legal Med 1993;106:132–4.
Sawatari Y, Alshamrani Y. Oral and maxillofacial surgery cases concurrent hyoid bone fracture associated with multiple facial fractures secondary to assault: case report and review of literature. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Cases 2019;5:100119.
Bolatlı G, Dogan NÜ, Fazlıoğulları Z, Kıvrak AS, Uysal II, Karabulut AK, Paksoy Y. The evaluation of variations of the hyoid bone with multidetector computerized tomography. Tropical Health and Medical Research 2020;2:1–8.
Samieirad S, Rayeni AS, Tohidi E. A rare case of hyoid bone fracture concomitant with a comminuted mandibular fracture. J Maxillofac Oral Surg 2020;19:40–3.
Bibby RE, Preston CB. The hyoid triangle. Am J Orthod 1981;80: 92–7.
Ceylan I, Gunnar A. The Study of the natural head and hyoid bone positions of the subjects having different vertical facial development. Turkish Journal of Ortodontics 1995;8:165–71.
Cleal CF. Deglutition: a study of form and function. Am J Orthod 1965;51:566–94.
Durzo CA, Brodie AG. Growth behavior of the hyoid bone. Angle Orthod 1962;32:193–204.
Sahin Sağlam AM, Uydas NE. Relationship between head posture and hyoid position in adult females and males. J Craniomaxillofac Surg 2006;34:85–92.
Pollanen MS, Ubelaker D. Forensic significance of the polymorphism of hyoid bone shape. J Forensic Sci 1997;42:890–2.
Shimizu Y, Kanetaka H, Kim YH, Okayama K, Kano M, Kikuchi M. Age-related morphological changes in the human hyoid bone. Cells Tissues Organs 2005;180:185–92.
Kindschuh SC, Dupras TL, Cowgill LW. Determination of sex from the hyoid bone. Am J Phys Anthropol 2010;143:279–84.
Lekšan I, Marcikić M, Nikolić V, Radić R, Selthofer R. Morphological classification and sexual dimorphism of hyoid bone: new approach. Coll Antropol 2005;29:237–42.
Kim DI, Lee UY, Park DK, Kim YS, Han KH, Kim KH, Han SH. Morphometrics of the hyoid bone for human sex determination from digital photographs. J Forensic Sci 2006;51:979–84.
Balseven-Odabasi A, Yalcinozan E, Keten A, Akcan R, Tumer AR, Onan A, Canturk N, Odabasi O, Dinc AH. Age and sex estimation by metric measurements and fusion of hyoid bone in a Turkish population. J Forensic Leg Med 2013;20:496–501.
Kopuz C, Ortug G. Variable morphology of the hoyid bone in Anatolian population: clinical implications – a cadaveric study. International Journal of Morphology 2016;34:1396–403.