[Analysis of 520 zygomatic fractures. 1]

Area of Science:

• Maxillofacial Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Orthognathic Surgery

Context:

• A retrospective study analyzed 520 zygomatic fracture cases treated between 1979 and 1983.
• The study focused on identifying patterns in fracture types, treatment modalities, and outcomes.
• Maxillofacial Surgery services at the Saturnino Lora Surgical and Clinical Hospital served as the study site.

Purpose:

• To describe the characteristics and management of zygomatic fractures.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of different reduction and contention techniques.
• To determine factors influencing fracture stability and treatment selection.

Summary:

• Groups III and IV zygomatic fractures were most frequent and unstable, linked to displacement magnitude, direction, and duration.
• Single reduction techniques, primarily the Lothrop technique, were most common (76.5%).
• Fractures older than seven days generally required combined reduction-contention techniques, except for Groups II and V, with Lothrop-Dingman being frequent.

Impact:

• Findings inform surgical decision-making for zygomatic fractures.
• Highlights the importance of treatment timing and technique selection for optimal outcomes.
• Provides insights into managing complex frontozygomatic disjunction fractures with specific variants and fixation methods.