Zygoma is a very crucial component which maintains facial contour. Fractures involving zygoma isvery common, in fact it is the second most common facial bone to the fractured following facialtrauma (next only to nasal bones). Fractures involving maxilla not only creates cosmeticdeformities, it also causes disruption of ocular and mandibular functions too. This article attemptsto discuss in detail the etiopathogenesis and the various management options available. It alsoincludes our 3 years experience in treating these patients at Stanley Medical College Chennai.During the period of 3 years between 2010 - 2012 about 82 patients got treated in our institution forfaciomaxillary trauma.

Arjunan, Karthikeyan

Narashiman, Seethalakshmi

Thiagarajan, Balasubramanian

English

Otolaryngology online journal

ISSN: 2250-0359                                                                                            Volume 3 Issue 1.5 2013
Fracture zygoma and its management our experience
*Balasubramanian Thiagarajan  *Seethalakshmi Narashiman * Karthikeyan Arjunan
 *Stanley Medical College
Abstract:
Zygoma is a very crucial component which maintains facial contour.  Fractures involving zygoma is 
very common, in fact it is the second most common facial bone to the fractured following facial 
trauma (next only to nasal bones).  Fractures involving maxilla not only creates cosmetic 
deformities, it also causes disruption of ocular and mandibular functions too.   This article attempts 
to discuss in detail the etiopathogenesis and the various management options available.  It also 
includes our 3 years experience in treating these patients at Stanley Medical College Chennai.  
During the period of 3 years between 2010 - 2012  about 82 patients got treated in our institution for 
faciomaxillary trauma. 
Introduction:
Zygoma plays a vital role in maintaining facial contour.  This is because the facial contour is 
directly influenced by underlying bony architecture 
1.  Fracture and dislocation of this bone not only 
causes cosmetic defects but also disrupts ocular and mandibular functions too.  The zygomatic 
region is a prominent portion of the face next only to the dorsum of the nose.  This predisposes this 
bone to various trauma
 2.  The bony architecture of this bone is rather unique, it enables it to 
withstand blows with significant impact without being fractured.  At the most it gets disarticulated 
along its suture lines.  Fractures can involve any of the four articulations of zygoma which include 
zygomatico-maxillary complex, zygomatic complex proper, orbitozygomatic complex.  Fractures 
involving zygoma should be repaired at the earliest because it can cause both functional and 
cosmetic defects.
Important functional defects involving this bone is restriction of mouth opening due to impingement 
on the coronoid process
 3.  It is hence mandatory to diagnose and treat this condition properly.  It is 
also important to reduce this fracture and fix it accurately, because skeletal healing after inadequate 
reduction can cause reduced projection of malar region of the face leading on to cosmetic 
deformities.  Accurate assessment of position of the fractured bone should be performed in relation 
to skull base posteriorly and midface anteriorly.  This assessment is very important before reduction 
is attempted to ensure accurate reduction of the fractured fragments.
Importance of facial buttresses in fracture of middle third of face 
4:
The buttress system of midface is formed by strong frontal, maxillary, zygomatic and sphenoid 
bones and their attachments to one another.  The central midface contains many fragile bones that could easily crumble when subjected to strong forces.  These fragile bones are surrounded by 
thicker bones of the facial buttress system lending it some strength and stability.
Components of Buttress system:
For better understanding the components of the facial buttress system have been divided into:
1. Vertical buttresses
2. Horizontal buttresses
Vertical buttress: 
These buttresses are very well developed.
They include:
1. Nasomaxillary
2. Zygomaticomaxillay
3. Pterygomaxillay
4. Vertical mandible
Majority of the forces absorbed by midface are masticatory in nature.  Hence the vertical buttresses 
are well developed in humans.
Horizontal buttresses:
These buttresses interconnect and provide support for the vertical buttresses. They include:
1. Frontal bar
2. Infraorbital rim & nasal bones
3. Hard palate & maxillary alveolus
Diagram illustrating tbe Buttress system of the facial skeletonIncidence:
Among the 280 trauma patients admitted for treatment at Stanley Medical College 82 had sustained 
faciomaxillary injuries.
Chart showing the incidence of faciomaxillary trauma in comparison with other trauma cases
Among the cases studied 70 of them were males and the rest were females.
Chart showing the number of male and female patients who presented with fracture of zygoma
Total cases Faciomaxillary trauma
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Male
FemaleClassification of zygoma fracture:
Leefort classification:
1. Non displaced – Symptomatic treatment. No reduction necessary
2. Displaced – Closed reduction is necessary
3. Comminuted – Open reduction is necessary
4. Orbital wall fracture – If ocular symptoms predominate it should be attended first.  After oedema 
subsides then open reduction can be attempted.
5. Zygomatic arch fracture – Open reduction with stablization using micro plates / wiring.
Knight & North classification 
5:
This classification suggested by Knight etal in 1961 helped to determine prognosis and optimal 
treatment modality for these individuals.
Group I fractures:
In these patients fracture lines in zygoma could be seen only in imaging.  There is absolutely no 
displacement. These patients could ideally be managed conservatively by observation and by asking 
the patient to eat soft diet.
Group II fractures:
This group includes isolated fractures of the arch of zygoma.  These patients present with trismus 
and cosmetic deformities.
Group III fractures:
This include unrotated fractures involving body of zygoma.
Group IV fractures:
This involves medially rotated fractures of body of zygoma.
Group V fractures:
This involves laterally rotated fractures of body of zygoma.  This type of fracture is very unstable 
and cannot be managed by closed reduction.  Open reduction will have to be resorted to.
Group VI fractures:
This is complex fracture.  It has multiple fracture lines over the body of zygoma.  This condition is 
difficult to manage by closed reduction.  Open reduction and microplate fixation is indicated in 
these patients.  This type of fracture should not be managed by closed reduction alone because the 
presence of oedema / haematoma would mask the cosmetic deformity giving an impression that 
reduction has occurred.  After reduction of oedema and followed by the action of masseter the 
fractured fragment may distract making the cosmetic deformity well noticeable.In our Institution patients with zygomatic bone fractures presented under various categories of  
Knight classification.  Majority of them belonged to Group I and II fractures.
Table showing the number of patients in various groups of Knight's classification 
Mason's classification of fracture zygoma:
Mason
 6 etal used CT imaging to classify various forms of fracture zygoma.  CT imaging provides 
the most accurate information about facial skeleton.  Fractures involving facial bones, their 
positions, whether it is displaced or not can be clearly seen in CT scan images.  Mason classified 
fractures involving zygoma into:
1. Low energy injury
2. Medium energy injury
3. High energy injury
Low energy injury:
Low energy fractures involving zygoma involves minimal or no displacement of fractured 
fragments.  In this group of patients fractures are commonly seen in the frontozygomatic suture line. 
This area is very stable and hence fractures involving this area can be treated conservatively.
Middle energy injury:
Fracture zygoma due to middle energy injury causes fractures of all its supporting buttresses.  There 
may be mild to moderate displacement and comminution.  These patients invariably need eyelid / 
intraoral approach for adequate reduction and fixation of fracture.
Group I Group II Group III Group IV Group V Vroup VI
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70High energy injury:
This injury frequently causes Lefort fractures.  These patients have difficulty in opening their 
mouth.  Repair of fractures involving this area should be carried out through multiple approaches 
which include:
Bicoronal approach
Intraoral approach
Eye lid approach
Studies reveal that primary bone healing allows quicker and stronger bone formation than callous 
healing
 7.  Rigid fixation of fractured fragments promote primary healing in preference to callous 
formation.
While performing open reduction it should be borne in mind that Titanium plates 
8 are preferred to 
biodegradable ones when the process of reduction leaves small gaps between fractured fragments.
Clinical features:
1. Anaesthesia / Paraesthesia of that side of the face
2. Inability to open the mouth
3. Flattening of zygomatic area
4. Diplopia
5. Subconjunctival haemorrhage
6. Eye lid oedema
7. Periorbital haemorrhage
8. Lateral canthal dystopia
9. Ipsilateral epistaxis
10. Buccal sulcus haematomas
11. Enopthalmos in orbital floor fractures
Opthalmic examination is a must if any of the opthalmic manifestations of fracture of zygoma is 
seen.  In the presence of ruptured globe, retinal detachment and traumatic optic nerve atrophy 
management of ophthalmic manifestations take precedence over fracture reduction procedure.Axial CT image of nose and sinuses showing fracture of zygoma with medial displacement (stable)
Picture showing depressed fracture of zygoma (medial displacement)Picture showing reduction being performed via intraoral route
Chart showing the common clinical features our patients presented with
Anaesthesia
Trismus
Flattening
Diplopia
subconjunctival bleed
Eyelid oedema
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90Orbital exploration is indicated in the following circumstances:
1. Severe comminution
2. Displacement of orbital rim
3. Displacement of greater than 50% of the orbital floor with prolapse of orbital contents into the 
maxillary sinus
4. Orbital floor fracture of greater than 2 cm
2
5. Combination of inferior and medial orbital wall fractures
6. Suspected involvement of orbital apex
Our patients commonly presented with cosmetic defect of the malar area, followed by trismus.
Isolated zygomatic arch fracture:
This fracture can be managed easily without the necessity of internal fixation / splinting if reduction 
is performed within the span of 72 hours following injury.  Fractures involving zygomatic arch can 
cause inability of movement of mandible.  These fractures can be reduced using Gillie's temporal 
approach or Dingman's
9 supraorbital approach.  Other approaches include Buccal sulcus approach.  
Studies reveal that temporal or supraorbital approaches provided the best results 
10.  
Ruler test:
This is a rather useful clinical test to identify patients with fracture of zygoma.
Two rulers are used as shown in the figure below to perform this test. These rulers are placed in 
front of the ears. Ruler is found to deviate on the side of fracture.
Figure showing ruler test being performedGillie's technique of reducing fracture zygoma:
Small incision is made over temporal area superficial temporal artery is avoided.
Figure showing incision for Gillies procedureAuricularis superior muscle is cut along the line of its muscle fibers
Temporalis fascia is cut with a knifePeriosteal elevator is inserted through the incision and the fractured 
fragment is elevated. A gauze piece is used as a leverageFigure showing fracture arch of zygoma being reduced.
Zygomatic complex fratures:
These fractures are invariably managed by open reduction with two point / three point fixation.  
Surgical procedure is performed usually after 4- 6 weeks following injury.  If fractures are more 
than 3 months old then osteotomy will have to be performed.  Bone grafts need to be used to 
perform accurate repair.  Usually two point fixation is sufficient in majority of patients.  Two point 
fixation involves microplate fixation at zygomatico-frontal and zygomatic arch areas.  When using 
microplates for zygomatico-frontal area care should be taken to position it slightly posteriorly so that untoward  subcutaneous projection of the plate can be avoided.
Figure showing two point fixation points
Two point fixation is sufficient in a majority of patients.  Rarely when fracture is extensive and 
associated with lateral displacement of fractured fragments three point fixation need to be resorted 
to.
Bicoronal approach may be used to approach this area for open reduction purposes.  Eye brow 
incision / transconjunctival incisions can also be used to access this area.  
Figure showing three point fixation areas
As shown in the figure three point fixation includes fixing:
1. Frontozygomatic suture
2. Infraorbital rim
3. Zygomatico maxillary buttressIn our analysis only 2 of the 82 patients studied needed two point fixation.  All the other patients 
were managed either conservatively or by closed reduction.
Chart showing the number of patients who under went various procedures for the management of 
zygomatic fracture
Classification of zygomatico-maxillary complex fractures:
Zingg's classification 
11:
Zingg in 1992 had separated zygomatico-maxillary complex into three types:
1. Type A
2. Type B
3. Type C
Type A :
This type is associated with one component of the tetrapod structure.
This type is subdivided into three subgroups:
Type A1 zygomatic arch alone is fractured.
Type A2 fracture of lateral orbital wall
Total Closed reduction Gille Open reduction 2 point fixation
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90Type A3 fracture of inferior orbital rim
Type B fracture:
This type of fracture involves all 3 buttresses.  Also known as Tripod fracture.  This fracture will 
have tobe treated by two point fixation / three point fixation techniques.
Type C fracture:
These are comminuted fractures involving zygoma.
Orbital floor is the weakest component of the zygomatic-maxillary complex.  Type A3, B and C are 
associated with fracture of the floor of orbit with risk of injury to orbital contents.
Conclusion:
This study reveals:
1. Majority of our patients with fracture zygoma presented with flattened malar region.  Next 
common symptom of presentation was trismus.
2. All of our patients except for one with fracture zygoma had stable medial displacement
3. Majority of our patients were managed conservatively / Gillie's procedure.
4. Only two patients needed open reduction with three point fixationReferences:
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4. Manson PN, Hoopes JE, Su CT. Structural pillars of the facial skeleton: An approach to the 
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Analysis of treatment of the isolated zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures.

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Classification and treatment of zygomatic fractures: a review of 1,025 cases. J Oral Maxillofac Surg.

Management of zygomatic complex fracture.

Portable fluoroscopy in the management of zygomatic arch fractures. Ann Plast Surg.

PS: Etiology and management of zygomatico maxillary complex fractures in the armed forces. MJAFI

Structural pillars of the facial skeleton: An approach to the management of Le Fort fractures. Plast Reconstr Surg

Surgery of Facial Fractures.

The classification of malar fractures: An analysis of displacement as a guide to treatment. Br J Plast Surg.

The effect of rigid fixation on the survival of onlay bone grafts: an experimental study. Plast Reconstr Surg.

Toward CTbased facial fracture treatment. Plast Reconstr Surg. Feb 1990;85(2):20212; discussion

Fracture zygoma and its management our experience

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Fracture zygoma and its management our experience

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