Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Real-Time Dynamic Navigation System for the Precise Quad-Zygomatic Implant Placement in a Patient with a Severely Atrophic Maxilla
Published on: October 18, 2021
Minimally Invasive Surgical Approach for Zygomatic Implant Placement - A Retrospective Study
Guillermo Parisi1,2, Federico Stolbizer1,3, Francisco Arraña3
1Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology II, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Introduction:
Alveolar process resorption and severe maxillary atrophy pose significant challenges for oral surgeons. In the 1990s, an alternative method emerged using non-alveolar or zygomatic implants (ZI). Originally, this procedure was carried out under general anaesthesia, required extensive flaps and had several complications. This study aims to present a working protocol and assess the complications, success and survival rates associated with ZI surgery. It was developed for placing ZIs through precision surgical guides and a minimally invasive vestibular approach under local anaesthesia.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective study design was implemented, including all patients who underwent ZI surgery at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, between March 2021 and May 2023. The sample only included patients who underwent bilateral ZIs. The study variables were medical history, implant success, survival rates and complications.
Results:
The sample consisted of 52 patients, and 208 implants were inserted. The main complication was implant exposure (2.40%), followed by epistaxis (1.44%). The average follow-up was 18 months.
Discussion:
This working protocol facilitates implant insertion through a combination of surgical guide and vestibular approach. It minimises the risk of complications and optimises surgical and prosthetic outcomes.
