Fractured zygomas

Background:  The purpose of this paper is to provide a review, based on collected data, on the topic of ‘fractured zygoma’. The review is presented under the headings of epidemiology, fracture patterns, treatment modalities and complications. Throughout the paper comparison is made with published data from around the world.

Methods:  A 10‐year retrospective audit was undertaken of all hospitalized patients, at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania, who had sustained a fractured zygoma. All Le Fort fractures involving the zygoma were excluded.

Results:  A total of 263 fractures was sustained, largely due to assault. Alcohol was a significant contributing factor. Tetrapod fractures were the most frequent type of fractures witnessed. Plating was the most frequently employed fixation. Inferior orbital nerve dysfunction and other complications were seen in 24.6% and 20.7% of follow‐up cases, respectively. Open reductions were nearly 4 times more likely to be accompanied by complications if inferior orbital nerve dysfunction was excluded.

Conclusions:  Both closed and open reductions are good treatment modalities and were used in near equal numbers of patients. There is a higher incidence of postoperative facial deformity in the closed reduction group, but more complications related to the incisions in the open reduction group. Open reduction and internal fixation is advocated for the unstable, markedly displaced or comminuted fractures. Silastic sheeting is a favoured graft for repair of the associated orbital floor defects and is associated with few complications.