A 71-month follow-up of zygomatico-orbital complex and/or zygomatic arch fractures

Patients and Methods: This survey was performed in three hospitals of Ribeirao Preto in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from August 2002 to July 2008. 1,575 records of patients with facial trauma were reviewed. There were 140 records containing cases of zygomatico-orbital complex and/or zygomatic arch fractures either associated or not with other facial fractures. Data regarding gender, age, race, addictions, day of trauma, etiology, signs and symptoms, oral hygiene condition, day of initial evaluation, hospital admission, day of surgery, surgery approach, pattern of fractures, treatment performed, postoperative antibiotic therapy, day of hospital discharge and postoperative complications were collected. Data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis.

Results: The most frequent fractures comprised Caucasian males and occurred during the fourth decade of life. The most frequent etiology was traffic accident and symptoms and signs included pain and edema. The type I fractures (Jackson's classification) were the main injury observed and the treatment of choice was always the rigid internal fixation. Postoperative antibiotic therapy was solely employed when there was an indication. Complications were observed in 13.1% of the cases.

Conclusions: The treatment protocol showed suitable postoperative results. Furthermore, this retrospective study showed several specific information of maxillofacial trauma in an urban center in Brazil, regarding the prevalence and epidemiology of the fractures.