Fractures of the Pediatric Zygoma: A Review of the Clinical Trends, Management Strategies, and Outcomes Associated With Zygomatic Fractures in Children

Open reduction and internal fixation of paediatric maxillozygomatic complex fractures: An 11-year multicentric retrospective study

BACKGROUND/AIM

Paediatric maxillozygomatic complex (MZC) fractures are uncommon, and there is a scarcity of data regarding their surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to analyse choices and outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for MZC fractures among 14 maxillofacial centers around the world.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This multicentric retrospective observational study included patients ≤16 years of age with quadripod MZC fractures treated with ORIF from January 2011 and December 2022. The following data were collected: age, gender, dentition stage (deciduous, mixed, and permanent), cause of injury, type of fracture, surgical approach, site of osteosynthesis (infraorbital rim, zygomaticomaxillary buttress, frontozygomatic, and zygomaticotemporal sutures), material (titanium or resorbable) and number of plates used, and outcome. The minimum follow-up was 6 months. Statistical analyses were performed with Fisher's exact test or chi-squared test, as appropriate.

RESULTS

Sixty-four patients (mean age, 12.3 years) with quadripod MZC fractures were included. Seventy-two percent of patients received a single-point fixation. The zygomaticomaxillary buttress was the most common site for fixation, both in single-point and two-point fixation schemes, especially in combination with the frontozygomatic suture. Increasing age was associated with a higher rate of plate removal (p < .001). Postoperative complications included 5 (7.8%) cases of wound infections, 2 (3.1%) infraorbital paraesthesia, 1 (1.6%) ectropion. Residual facial asymmetry was found in 5 (7.8%) patients and was not associated with the type of fixation (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the possibility of using ORIF, even with a single point of fixation, for the treatment of displaced quadripod MZC fractures in the paediatric population. The zygomaticomaxillary buttress was the preferred site of fixation and allowed for adequate stabilization with no external scars and a low risk of tooth damage. Future prospective studies with long-term follow-up are needed to establish definitive surgical protocols and clarify the surgical decision-making.

Pediatric Le Fort, Zygomatic, and Naso-Orbito-Ethmoid Fractures

Fractures of the pediatric midface are infrequent, particularly in children in the primary dentition, due to the prominence of the upper face relative to the midface and mandible. With downward and forward growth of the face, there is an increasing frequency of midface injuries seen in children in the mixed and adult dentitions. Midface fracture patterns seen in young children are quite variable; those in children at or near skeletal maturity mimic patterns seen in adults. Non-displaced injuries can typically be managed with observation. Displaced fractures require treatment with appropriate reduction and fixation and longitudinal follow-up to evaluate growth.

The Association of Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Fractures with Naso-Orbitoethmoid Fractures in Pediatric Populations

BACKGROUND

Naso-orbitoethmoid fractures associated with ipsilateral zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures are more challenging injuries than zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures alone. However, there is a paucity of information on this complex fracture pattern in the pediatric population. This study investigated the cause, treatment, and outcomes of combined zygomaticomaxillary complex and naso-orbitoethmoid fractures versus isolated zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures in pediatric patients.

METHODS

This was a 25-year retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients who presented to a single institution with zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures. Baseline patient demographics and clinical information, and concomitant injuries, treatment/operative management, and postoperative complications/deformities were recorded and compared between patients with combined zygomaticomaxillary complex and naso-orbitoethmoid fractures and patients with isolated zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures.

RESULTS

Forty-nine patients were identified to have had zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures in the authors' 25-year study period, of whom 46 had adequate clinical documentation and follow-up. Seventeen patients had combined zygomaticomaxillary complex-naso-orbitoethmoid fractures, of whom six had panfacial fractures. Both patient groups (zygomaticomaxillary complex only and combined zygomaticomaxillary complex-naso-orbitoethmoid fractures) were similar in terms of demographics. However, a significantly greater proportion of combined fracture patients experienced postoperative complications compared to isolated zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture patients, even after excluding those with panfacial fractures (87.5 percent versus 35.3 percent; p < 0.001). Enophthalmos (37.5 percent) and midface growth restriction (37.5 percent) were the two most common complications/deformities in all combined fracture patients.

CONCLUSIONS

High-impact trauma can lead to zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures with associated naso-orbitoethmoid fractures in children. This injury pattern was found to cause significantly greater postoperative morbidity than isolated zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures alone. Thus, pediatric patients presenting with this complex facial fracture pattern should be closely monitored.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Risk, II.

Absorbable Fixation Devices for Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Trauma: A Systematic Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to investigate surgical outcomes with the use of resorbable plating systems for the repair of craniomaxillofacial trauma in the pediatric population.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed. A descriptive analysis, operative technical data, outcomes, and postoperative complications with the use of absorbable plating systems for craniomaxillofacial trauma were included.

RESULTS

The systematic literature review identified 1264 abstracts, of which only 19 met inclusion criteria. From these 19 studies, 312 clinical cases with 443 facial fractures that were treated with absorbable fixation systems were extracted for analysis. The review identified only level III/IV (n = 17) and level V (n = 2) studies. Minor and major complications were rare, occurring in 5.45 percent (n = 17) and 3.21 percent (n = 10) of cases, respectively. The most common complications were surgical-site infections (n = 4) and plate extrusion (n = 4).

CONCLUSIONS

This report is, to the authors' knowledge, one of the first comprehensive reports on the use of absorbable plating systems for pediatric craniomaxillofacial trauma. Their analysis suggests that the use of absorbable fixation devices for pediatric craniomaxillofacial trauma is relatively safe, with a low-risk profile. Outcome studies with longer follow-up periods specifically investigating facial growth, reoperation rates, standardized surgical outcome metrics, and cost are necessary to effectively compare these fixation devices to titanium alternatives for craniomaxillofacial trauma.

Current management of facial fractures in the preadolescent

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews the trends in management of preadolescent facial fractures - a challenging population because of the need to consider growth, dynamic changes in dentition, and evolving fracture patterns.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent findings are a more thorough understanding of fracture patterns and distribution because of recent comprehensive studies isolating the preadolescent age cohort; the role of rigid internal fixation for significantly displaced fractures; and the potential applications and indications for the use of resorbable hardware for fracture fixation in the preadolescent.

SUMMARY

As preadolescent fractures occur in a period of growth and evolving dentition in the facial skeleton, it is mandatory for the treating surgeon to have a thorough knowledge of standard and alternative treatment options to optimally manage these patients.