Radiological evaluation of sphenozygomatic suture fixation for restoration of orbital volume: A retrospective study

Lateral displacement of fracture zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) can cause significant increase in orbital volume leading to enophthalmos. The aim of this study was to radiologically evaluate the efficacy of sphenozygomatic (SZ) suture fixation for restoration of orbital volume after elevation of the temporalis in cases of fracture ZMC where the fixation of zygomatic arch (ZA) was deemed necessary through latero-posterior approach.

43 operated cases of fracture ZMC using 4-point fixation were divided into two groups. Group I (n = 24) cases had undergone reduction and fixation of SZ suture as fourth point of fixation by elevating temporalis muscle using hemicoronal approach. Group II (n = 19) cases had undergone reduction and fixation of Infraorbital (IO) rim as fourth point of fixation using preseptal transconjunctival approach. Both the groups were analyzed separately and compared for restoring the increased orbital volume on CT.

Difference in the pre-surgical orbital volume of both the groups was found to be statistically insignificant [p = .678]. In group I, the average bony orbital volume significantly reduced by 3.6 cc from 25.5 cc to 21.9 cc [p = .000] post-surgically. In group II, the average bony orbital volume reduced by 1.5 cc from 25.6 cc to 24.1 cc post-surgically There was a significant difference in the reduction of the increased orbital volume among the 2 groups (Group I: 3.6 cc, group II: 1.5 cc). The amount of reduction was more and statistically significant [p = .000] in the group I than group II.

SZ suture fixation is reliable in reducing fractures ZMC and restoring the increased orbital volume where the fixation of zygomatic arch (ZA) was deemed necessary through latero-posterior approach.