Intraoperative repositioning assessment using navigation system in zygomatic fracture

Area of Science:

• Maxillofacial Surgery
• Medical Navigation Technology
• Surgical Accuracy

Background:

• Accurate intraoperative repositioning is crucial for facial symmetry in zygomatic fracture operations.
• Navigation systems, initially developed for neurosurgery, are increasingly adopted in various surgical fields, including maxillofacial surgery.
• The Stealth Station TREON (Medtronic) navigation system was evaluated for its utility in zygomatic fracture surgery.

Observation:

• The navigation system was applied to 6 patients with zygomatic bone fractures.
• Intraoperative assessments included measuring distances from the facial midline and comparing the affected side to a mirror image of the unaffected side.
• Both methods were utilized to guide and evaluate the reduction of zygomatic fractures.

Findings:

• The navigation system facilitated accurate fracture reduction and confirmed facial symmetry in all 6 patients during surgery.
• Postoperative computed tomographic scans corroborated the achievement of good facial symmetry.
• The system proved effective for precise fracture reduction and symmetry confirmation.

Implications:

• The navigation system shows potential for treating untreated facial fractures requiring osteotomy.
• It may also be beneficial for managing comminuted facial fractures with complex fragment patterns.
• The technology could aid in the evaluation of bone grafts in reconstructive surgery.