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Fractures of the Malar-Zygomatic Compound

1952; Oxford University Press; Volume: 28; Issue: 320 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/pgmj.28.320.363

1469-0756

J. B. Prendiville,

Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances

Fractures of the malar-zygomatic compound have in recent years emerged from relative obscurity and become one of the better known fractures seen in casualty departments and maxillo- facial units.During the period from January 1950 to August 195I, I07 cases were treated in this unit at the Wythenshawe Hospital and an analysis of these cases is given in this paper.More car and motor-cycle accidents have been given as the cause of the apparent increase in the numbers now seen, but our records tend to show that many are still due to brawls, flying missiles and falls.A better knowledge in the diagnosis of this type of injury and the ever-increasing use of X-rays may be the most important factors; 72 per cent. of this series were adult males, 27 per cent.were females and one was a boy of four. AnatomyThe malar-zygomatic compound is formed by the zygoma, its frontal and maxillary processes and the zygomatic arch.The zygoma is a quadrilateral-shaped bone which forms the prominence of the cheek in the upper and outer -quadrant of the face.It articulates posteriorly by its temporal process with the zygomatic process of the tem- poral bone forming the zygomatic arch.Antero- inferiorly it articulates with the zygomatic process of the maxilla and is separated from the maxillary antrum by a thin triangular plate of bone.Its antero-superior border forms a considerable part of the lower and outer quadrant of the orbital margin and at the upper end of this border it articulates with the frontal bone.The zygomatic arch overlies the temporal fossa, the temporalis muscle and coronoid process of the mandible.Along the upper border of the arch is attached the temporal fascia and below it gives origin to the masseter muscle.