Changing trends in the treatment of zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures: a 12-year evaluation of methods used.

PURPOSE

The efficacy of the current methods for the treatment of fractures of the zygomaticomaxillary complex was evaluated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One thousand two hundred seventy-seven patients with fracture of the zygomaticomaxillary complex and 196 patients with fractures of the zygomatic arch that were admitted between 1984 and 1995 were evaluated. One thousand one hundred fifty surgical procedures were performed, and in 401 cases, no operative treatment was considered necessary. The Gillie's approach was used in 514 cases, intraosseous wiring in 89 cases, bone plate osteosynthesis in 322 cases, Roger-Anderson pins in 180 cases, antral packing in 17 cases, and elevation with a hook in 28 cases.

RESULTS

The best results were achieved with the use of semirigid fixation with miniplates applied at one or more sites of the fractured complex, occasionally used in combination with other methods such as Roger-Anderson pins.

CONCLUSIONS

Semirigid fixation with miniplates offers the most reliable method available today for the treatment of zygomatico-orbital complex fractures and has practically replaced every other method in our institution. The increased cost and occasionally the necessity to remove the hardware are the main disadvantages of the method.