Usefulness of intraoperative ultrasonic diagnosis in zygomatic fracture surgery with an intraoral approach

Generally, en bloc zygomatic fractures are treated by open reductionwith incisions of theinfraorbital rim and supraorbital eyebrow regions. However this method is associated with postoperativecomplications such as facial scars. An intraoral approach requiring only a maxillary vestibular incision, has been reported in several articles. This method is simple and results in adequate bone reduction and fixation. However, the position of bone fragments in the infraorbital rim cannot be observed. We used anintraoral approach, during intraoperative ultrasonic examination to confirm the condition of infraorbitalfragments in 17 patients who had simple en bloc fractures of the zygoma bone body. Ultrasonographyshowed dynamic bone reduction as distinct real-time images and bone fixation was performed exactly. Inselected patients the intaroral approach during ultrasonography, is recommended for en bloc zygomaticfractures.