Effectiveness of sphenozygomatic suture reduction in ZMC fracture by assessing orbital volume and facial symmetry

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of reduction of the sphenozygomatic suture in zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures by orbital volume and facial symmetry analysis. 16 patients with severely displaced or comminuted unilateral zygomatic complex fractures were studied. All patients underwent ORIF via hemicoronal incision as fixation of zygomatic arch was deemed necessary. This provided direct visualisation of reduction of the sphenozygomatic suture. The orbital volume and symmetry were analysed using different softwares. Descriptive statistics were computed. Patients were followed up for 3 months. The average reduction in orbital bony volume was 1.8 cc. Comparing the post-operative value with the contralateral normal side an average difference of only 0.5 cc was obtained. Preoperatively average deviation in symmetry was 3.66 ± 1.94 mm. Post-operatively the average deviation in symmetry was reduced to 2.19 ± 0.9 mm. On follow up, the complication noted was only one case of hardware failure was noted in the infraorbital rim. To evaluate the effective reduction of sphenozygomatic suture, restoration of symmetry and orbital volume should be assessed concurrently.

Keywords

• Sphenozygomatic suture
• Orbital volume
• Zygomatic arch symmetry
• Zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures