Epidemiology and Treatment of Fractures of the Zygomatic Complex

Objective: This descriptive analytical study evaluated the epidemiology and treatment of zygomatic fractures in China during a 10-year period, and compared findings with those in the literature.Patients and Methods: 152 patients with comparatively complete records from a total of 428 patients who had zygomatic complex fractures were reviewed, with special focus on epidemiology and treatment. Isolated fractures of the zygomatic arch were excluded. Strict medical follow-up was carried out for sourced patients.Results: There were 84 old fractures and 68 fresh ones in the patient group. Road traffic accidents were the predominant aetiological factor. The majority of patients were male, with age between 20 and 40 years. The most common feature was malar depression. Internal fixation with titanium plate was used in 123 patients, while wire fixation was done for 29 patients. 328 titanium plates were used in the rigid internal fixation group. Plates were distributed at the zygomatic-frontal suture (n = 86), zygomatic-maxillary suture and/or zygomatic crest (n = 105), zygomatic-temporal suture (n = 42), and across the fracture line (n = 95). One-site fixation was done for 21 patients, 2-site fixation for 56 patients, and 3-site fixation or higher for 75 patients.Conclusions: Results confirm that road traffic accidents remain the major cause of zygomatic fractures. Rigid internal fixation for such fractures has become more predominant and reliable with the development of improved fixation strategies.