Feasibility of a craniometry in a comminuted zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture

Abstract

Few studies have reported on using craniometry for comminuted zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fracture management. We present our experiences with this procedure and a review of the related literature.From September 2011 to October 2018, 43 patients with comminuted ZMC fracture receiving open reduction internal fixation under coronal incision were enrolled. Data on gender, age, operation time, hospital stay, duration of follow-up, vertical/horizontal differences, and complications were collected. Between-group differences (C-arm imaging vs craniometry) were evaluated using nonparametric Mann-Whitney test for continuous data and chi-square test for categorical data.No significant difference were found between the groups regarding gender, age, hospital duration, follow-up duration, and postoperative complications, except for operation time. The averaged operation time was significantly shorter in the C-arm imaging group (4.217h) than in the craniometry group (6.193h). The C-arm imaging group had two cases with horizontal differences >3mm and one case with vertical differences >3mm. The craniometry group had four cases with horizontal differences >3mm and four cases with vertical differences >3mm. There were no significant differences between the two groups in horizontal differences and vertical differences.Craniometry may achieve the same outcomes as C-arm imaging in comminuted ZMC fracture management; however, the former requires more time than the latter.