Introduction: Fractures of the zygomatic complex with its accompanying functional and esthetic deficits are a fairly common phenomenon in the practice of maxillofacial and plastic surgery. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review, based on collected data, on the topic of "fractured zygoma". The review is presented under the headings of epidemiology, fracture patterns, treatment modalities and complications. Throughout the paper comparison is made with published data from around the world.
Methods: A 10-year retrospective audit was undertaken of all hospitalized patients, at the department of maxillo facial and plastic surgery in Charles Nicolle Hospital (Tunisia), who had sustained a fractured zygoma from 1995 to 2004.
Results: A total of 356 fractures were sustained. Patients in the third decade of life (34%) recorded the highest incidence. The sex distribution is markedly higher for males than for females (9/1). Road traffic accidents (31%) were the predominant etiology. Tetrapod fractures (43.7%) were the most frequent type of fractures followed by zygomatic arch fractures (34.53%). Cases were managed by either closed or open reduction. Percutaneous reduction was the commonest technique employed. However, in unstable fractures necessitated open reduction, transosseous wiring was the most frequently employed fixation. Patients were followed-up routinely, for an average of nine months. Inferior orbital nerve dysfunctions were seen in 8.7% of cases.
Discussion: Epidemiological findings are similar to those reported in the literature. Males sustained more fractures than females and road traffic accidents were the commonest cause of zygomatic fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation is advocated for the unstable, markedly displaced or comminuted fractures.