Unilateral Zygomatic Complex Fracture - A Comparison Between non Surgical Treatment and Surgical Treatment.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nMedical advances have enabled zygomatic complex (ZMC) fractures to be treated by various approaches. This study aim to analyse the demographics and treatment outcomes of unilateral ZMC fractures, treated non-surgically or surgically.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThis 5 year non-randomized prospective study had included 65 cases of unilateral ZMC fractures from October 2014 until December 2019. Patients were treated and divided into non-surgical and surgically treated group. Treatment outcomes in terms of step deformities, malar depression, diplopia, infraorbital hypoaesthesia and mouth opening were evaluated up to 6 months post trauma/intervention.\n\n\nRESULTS\nRoad traffic accident (96.9%) was the main cause, with predominant male involvement (80%) and median age of 28 years. Significant improvements (p<0.05) were observed for step deformities and malar depression among the surgically treated group at postoperative day 1 and week 1. Throughout the 6 months review, infraorbital hypoesthesia and diplopia showed no significant differences between both groups, (p>0.05). Besides, all patients showed significant mouth opening improvement (p < 0.05) over 6 months period.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nWe found that infraorbital hypoaesthesia and limited of mouth opening should not be the absolute indications for surgical treatment of ZMC fractures. Non-surgical treatment that included early jaw exercise and symptomatic treatment had potential value for satisfactory functional gain.