Skull-Cervico-Mandibular Unit: Correlation between Hyoid Bone, Thyroid Gland and Posture

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the postural control of the patient with pathology or surgery of the neck area. We have examined a group of subjects with thyroid pathology and destined to total thyroidectomy. Method: Our sample comprised 10 patients (7 female and 3 male; mean age 50,9±15,8). They have been submitted to postural examination, before and after total thyroidectomy, using the baropodometric platform, the scoliosismeter and the ocular convergence test. All the values obtained from the baropodometric tests executed before and after thyroidectomy have been compared using a statistical analysis. The T Student test and a significant level of 5% (a=0,05;p£,05) have been used. Results: It appears that total thyroidectomy in examined subjects revealed an improvement of the more representative baropodometric parameters. The 25% of the subjects that before thyroidectomy showed at the examination using the scoliosismeter a tilted body axis (to right or left), after thyroidectomy showed an alignment of the same; in the 10% of the subjects that had the tilted head on one side, this returned centrally. The 70% of the patients that before thyroid removal displayed an anterior inclination of the shoulder blade, after the operation brought back their barycentre. Moreover the subjects that before thyroidectomy displayed an insufficient ocular they improved convergence after thyroidectomy. Clinical Significance: Following the comparison and scrutiny of the above tests, there was improvement in the postural arrangement confirming the tight anatomical link between the thyroid gland and the involved structures in position maintenance.