Zygomatic fractures: classification and complications.

A retrospective study of zygomatic fractures is presented in order to analyse late complications and to evaluate the different radiographic classifications. The study comprises 109 patients with 111 zygomatic fractures. The aetiology was violence in 39% and traffic accidents in 28%. Associated fractures of the craniofacial skeleton occurred in 42% of the patients. Seventy-two patients were available for the follow-up study. Malar flattening was found in 16% of the patients operated on. Thirty-four per cent of the patients had sensory disturbances, 6% had enophthalmos, and 1% had diplopia. Classifications of zygomatic fractures are reviewed. The fractures in the current study were grouped in accordance with the classifications of Knight & North and Larsen & Thomsen. Neither of these classifications was found to be useful in the preoperative evaluation of the postreductive fracture stability. The most reliable method of evaluating this stability is the preoperative evaluation, but CT classification systems may in the future demonstrate their value.