K-wire Insertion Beneath Zygomatic Arch Under the Fluoroscope for Rigid Fixation of Zygomatic Arch Fracture

Choi, Woo Shik; Yi, Soki; Joh, Seong Pil; Ahn, Sang Tae

Abstract

The fracture of zygomatic arch is one of the common fracture of the facial bone and commonly reduced by Gillies or Dingman method However, if the reduced bone segments are unstable after reduction, they tend to be displaced by mastication or unintentional external forces. Though many techniques have been introduced for the treatment of the unstable zygomatic arch fracture, all of those techniques have their own shortcomings. We devised a new fixation method to prevent the displacement of the reduced zygomatic arch segments with 0.047 inch K-wire under the fluoroscope. After reduction of zygomatic arch using Gillies method under the fluoroscope, a thin K-ire was inserted along the undersurface of the zygomatic arch through zygoma body for rigid fixation. The inserted K-wire was removed in 4 weeks. In ten cases, good cosmetic and functional results were observed without complications such as infection, facial nerve injury, displacement of fractured segments, and operative scar during the follow up period of 3 months. However, while the pin was being inserted, patients complained discomfort on their cheeks. This technique may be an available method to prevent the displacement of the reduced zygomatic arch and to obtain the rigid fixation.