The Use of O-Arm Imaging to Guide Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Fracture Reduction

Area of Science:

• Maxillofacial Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures are common midfacial injuries.
• Precise 3D reduction is difficult due to complex anatomy and limited visualization.
• Intraoperative imaging (CT, CBCT) aids accuracy, but O-arm utility is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of the O-arm, a mobile intraoperative CT platform, in managing ZMC fractures.
• To demonstrate how O-arm imaging can inform surgical decisions for complex midfacial trauma.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 17-year-old male with a tetrapod fracture.
• Utilized a mobile intraoperative CT (O-arm) for imaging during surgical reduction.
• O-arm provided real-time feedback to guide surgical management.

Main Results:

• The O-arm provided effective intraoperative feedback.
• This feedback directly informed surgical decisions for fracture reduction.
• The case illustrates successful application of O-arm in complex ZMC fracture management.

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative O-arm imaging is a valuable tool for ZMC fracture management.
• It can enhance reduction accuracy and potentially reduce revision rates.
• Further studies are warranted to confirm its broad utility.