Impact of intraoperative cone beam computed tomography in the management of zygomatic fractures

J Stomatol Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2021 Sep;122(4):349-354. doi: 10.1016/j.jormas.2020.11.005. Epub 2020 Nov 25.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the impact of intraoperative cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) assessment for the surgical management of zygomatic bone fracture (ZF).

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on patients operated on for unilateral ZF during a two-year period. Repositioning of the fractured zygoma was assessed intraoperatively by measuring the position of malar eminences in three dimensions on CBCT. A difference of more than 2 mm between both sides was considered significant and the reduction was judged inadequate. Surgical procedure was adapted to intraoperative imaging findings.

Results: The surgical procedures of 47 patients treated for ZF were analyzed. In 15% of the cases (7 patients), the intraoperative CBCT showed an inadequate reduction while the morphological results seemed correct. Those patients benefited from an immediate correction of the reduction. From these 7 patients, reduction was optimized further without the need of osteosynthesis in one case, additional osteosynthesis was performed in 4 cases and 2 patients required both reduction and osteosynthesis revision.

Conclusion: Intraoperative CBCT control helps to achieve anatomic repositioning in case of ZF. It may reduce the risk of under-treatment and possible reoperation, and of over-treatment meaning systematic ORIF in all fractures.

Keywords: CBCT; Intraoperative imaging; Maxillofacial surgery; Traumatology; Zygoma; Zygomatic fracture.

MeSH terms

  • Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
  • Humans
  • Orbital Fractures*
  • Overtreatment
  • Prospective Studies
  • Zygomatic Fractures* / diagnostic imaging
  • Zygomatic Fractures* / surgery