Zygomatic Fractures: A ۱۰-Year Retrospective Epidemiological Study

Background: Zygomatic fractures are among the most common maxillofacial injuries. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the incidence and causes of zygomatic fractures in patients referring to Tehran Taleghani hospital during a ۱۰-year period. Methods: This descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on ۲۹۴ records of patients (۲۴۸ males and ۴۶ females) with zygomatic fractures selected via census in Tehran Taleghani hospital from ۲۰۰۳ to ۲۰۱۳. Age, gender, cause of fracture, type of treatment modality, and post-operative complications were extracted and reported by using descriptive statistics. Data were analyzed using chi square and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: Most patients were aged ۲۰ - ۳۰ years (n = ۱۲۱, ۴۲.۱%). Car accident (n = ۹۷, ۳۳%), motorcycle accident (n = ۸۹, ۳۰.۳%), and fall from height (n = ۴۴, ۱۵.۱%) were the most common causes of fractures. The most common associated fracture was mandibular fracture (n = ۱۰۴, ۳۵.۴%). The most common type of zygomatic fracture was zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures (۸۷.۳%) treated by open reduction with internal fixation (۸۴.۸%). Paresthesia or hypoesthesia of the infraorbital nerve (n = ۱۷۷, ۶۴.۶%) was the most common complication. Periorbital ecchymosis (n = ۱۵۹, ۵۸%) was the most common ocular complication. Epistaxis (P = ۰.۰۱), paresthesia and hypoesthesia of infraorbital nerve (P = ۰.۰۱۶), enophthalmos (P = ۰.۰۱۴), step formation at the inferior orbital rim (P < ۰.۰۰۱), periorbital ecchymosis (P < ۰.۰۰۱), and subconjunctival hemorrhage (P = ۰.۰۰۶) had a higher frequency in ZMC compared to non-ZMC fractures. Conclusions: Zygomatic fractures comprised ۲۲.۸% of all maxillofacial injuries and they occurred mainly due to traffic accidents with a higher prevalence in males aged ۲۰ - ۳۰ years. They were mostly treated by open reduction with internal fixation.