Evaluation Of Clinical Features And Treatment Of Zygomatic Bone Fractures: A 10-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background The pattern of zygomatic bone fractures varies in the literature, their features being frequently masked by the presence of associated soft tissue lesions, which make clinical diagnosis and therapeutic indications difficult. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of zygomatic bone fractures and their interrelation with concomitant overlying soft tissue lesions, in order to improve the diagnosis and the establishment of the correct treatment. We also aimed to assess the type of treatment methods applied depending on the fracture pattern of the zygomatic bone, as well as their effectiveness depending on the incidence rate of postoperative complications. Methods A 10-year retrospective evaluation of midface fractures was performed in patients diagnosed and treated in a tertiary Clinic of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Results The study included 242 patients with zygomatic bone fractures. The majority of the fractures were displaced n = 179 (73.90%), closed n = 179 (73.90%) and complete n = 219 (90.50%). Hematoma was the most frequent associated soft tissue lesion n = 102 (42.15%) regardless of the fracture pattern (p = 1.000). The incidence of lacerations and excoriations was statistically higher in the case of complete (laceration p = 0.0028/ excoriation p = 0.037), displaced and comminuted zygomatic fractures (laceration p = 0.015/ excoriation p = 0.001). The most frequent type of treatment applied was Gillies reduction (61.98%), followed by ORIF (30.99%). The most frequent postoperative complication was malunion secondary to Gillies treatment (p = 002). Conclusions Patients presenting lacerations and excoriations on clinical soft tissue examination will most frequently have an underlying complete, displaced or comminuted zygomatic fracture. The most effective treatment method in the case of displaced, open or comminuted fractures was ORIF, while in the case of non-displaced and closed fractures, conservative treatment was the most effective.