TREATMENT OF MIDFACIAL FRACTURES: A 10-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Paul Andrei Țenț, Raluca-Iulia Juncar#, Mihai Juncar

Department of Oral and Maxillo-Facial Surgery, University of Oradea, Romania,Str.

Introduction: Midfacial fractures represent an extremely vast and complex pathology in maxillofacial surgery, and they can vary from simple nasal bone or temporo-zygomatic arch fractures without displacement to panfacial fractures with extensive displacement, accompanied by severe morphological, functional and cosmetic impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment methods applied to patients with midfacial fractures, in a representative group of patients.

Material and methods: A 10-year retrospective evaluation and statistical analysis of the observation charts of patients admitted and treated for midfacial fractures in the study’s host clinic were performed.

Results: The majority of the fractures were zygomatic complex fractures n=242 (43.06%). The most frequent treatment method applied was the orthopedic/closed method n=222 (58.58%), followed by combined orthopedic-surgical treatment n=124 (32.72%). Fourteen patients developed complications (3.69%). Combined treatment resulted in the greatest number of complications n=12 (p=0.000). The most common complication was malunion n=10, which most frequently occurred in the case of patients with Le Fort I, II and III fractures (p=0.000).

Conclusions: The two methods: orthopedic/closed and surgical (open reduction with internal fixation)  were statistically equally effective for the treatment of midfacial fractures, both having overall good results in terms of evolution or postoperative complications.