The Significance of the Cornal incision in Treatment of Complex Zygormatic Fractures

ABSTRACT

Restoration of anteroposterior projection of the zygomatic body and facial width are key elements in treatment of complex zygomatic fractures. Traditionally, it has been understood that for most fractures of the zygoma, three-point fixation of the zygomaticofrontal suture, inferior orbital rim, and zygomaticomaxillary buttress generally produces exact structural restoration. Recently, the importance of accurate reduction of the zygomatic arch through coronal incision has been favored in complex zygomatic fractures. Though coronal incision has the advantages of accurate reduction and fixation as a result of extensive exposure of the fractured area, this procedure also has many disadvantages including injury to the facial nerve, paresthesia, alopecia, scar formation, longer operating time, protracted hospitalization, etc. As well, there have been no objective data to prove the fact that four-point fixation through coronal incision is superior to traditional three-point fixation. From May, 1994 to December, 1998, the authors treated 45 patients by traditional three-point (n=20) and coronal four-point fixation (n=25) with random sampling. To assess the difference between the two methods the authors measured the axial angle of the zygoma, the axial angle of the zygomatic arch, and the degree of zygomatic arch inclination on submentovertex X-ray, and then analyzed the measurements by the paired T-test(p < 0.05). As a result, the axial angle of the zygoma and zygomatic arch assessed by anteroposterior projection, as well as the facial width showed no statistical difference between the two groups, respectively(p = 0.26, p = 0.18). Mean while, the degree of zygomatic arch inclination representing the local contour of the fractured zygomatic arch was statistically significant between the two groups(p < 0.05). Thus, the traditional three-point fixation method may be widely acceptable in treatment of complex zygomatic fractures with anterior three-point or zygomatic arch comminution.