Closed reduction of zygomatic tripod fractures using a towel clip

The zygomatic bone constitutes the prominence of the cheek. Fractures of the zygomatic bone are the second most treatment of zygomatic bone fractures and can be examined under two headings, open and closed reductions. This paper describes a new technique in the closed reduction of tripod fractures using a towel clip.

Seventeen consecutive patients (three females, 14 males) with a mean age of 35.5 years (range = 18-66 years) with zygomatic tripod fracture were treated using the towel clip technique between December 2011 and February 2014.

Patients were assessed in the first and 6 months postoperatively, by physical examination and computed tomography. Preoperatively, nine patients had paresthesia in the infraorbital nerve region. Three of these cases regressed postoperatively. Persistent collapse of the zygomatic projection was present in one patient.

Non-comminuted zygomatic tripod fractures can be easily treated percutaneously with the towel clip method in the absence of preoperative ocular problems such as diplopia, enophthalmos, or restricted eye movements. The technique is economical, fast, and safe. The possibility of persistent zygoma collapse after reduction should be kept in mind, and preoperatively the team should be warned of the possibility of progression to open reduction during surgery.