This document provides information on fractures of the zygomatic arch and orbit. It begins with an overview of orbital and zygomatic arch anatomy. It then discusses the characteristics, assessment, investigations and management of orbital floor, medial orbital wall, orbital roof and lateral orbital wall/zygomatic arch fractures. Common complications are also summarized. The document emphasizes that CT scanning is very useful for indicating fracture details and that surgery is often needed if fractures are displaced or causing symptoms like diplopia. Good prognosis depends on bone union and lack of deformity or limited jaw movement.

1. This is a PatientPlus article. PatientPlus articles are written for doctors and so the language can be
technical, however some people find that they add depth to the patient information leaflets. You
may find the abbreviations record helpful.
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Zygomatic Arch and Orbital Fractures
Overview
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The orbit and zygomatic arch1
The orbit is a pear-shaped cavity, with an apex directed posteriorly, medially and slightly upward.
The upper and lower walls of the cavity are described as the roof and the floor. It is also bound by
the medial and lateral walls. The orbital margin (rim) is strong and superiorly, it contains the
supraorbital notch/foramen which transmits vessels and nerves.
The zygoma forms part of the floor and lateral wall of the orbit and the zygomatic arch is an
important feature in the structure and appearance of the face. The malar complex refers to the
zygoma and maxillary bones (and therefore forms part of the orbital floor and lateral orbital wall).
This plays a key role in the structure and function of the facial skeleton.2 In addition to providing
support for the globe, it is the insertion site for the masseter muscle and protects the temporalis
muscle and the coronoid process.
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Fractures
The most common orbital injury is a 'blowout' fracture, usually involving the orbital floor ± the
medial wall. The malar complex is also commonly fractured in isolation by a blow to that area.3
The bones are either fractured or dislocated. The strong central part of the bone usually remains
intact and the force is transmitted to the three buttresses, individually or simultaneously (a 'tripod'
fracture) resulting in:3
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An infraorbital fracture.
Displacement of the zygomatico-frontal suture.
Fracture of the zygomatic arch.
Epidemiology
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2. Orbital fractures4
Males are at higher risk than women of most kinds of trauma,5 including orbital injuries. The
incidence of orbital fractures peaks in a bimodal fashion, at 10-40 years and again at 70 years.
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Zygomatic arch fractures6
After the nasal bone, the zygoma is the second most common bone of the face to be fractured. The
group at highest risk are young males.5 Aetiology is usually blunt trauma to the cheek, such as
involved in:
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Assault
Road traffic accidents
Contact sports (less common)
Assessment of potential fractures
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History
Specifically ask about:
Mechanism of injury - consider whether there might be a foreign body within the area of injury.
Areas of numbness - infraorbital/upper lip numbness on the affected side (involving maxillary,
central, lateral and/or canine teeth) is present in 70-90% of patients with zygomatic fractures.7
Visual symptoms - diplopia can occur due to entrapment of a muscle, neural injury or a haematoma
in an external ocular muscle.
Other symptoms - trismus is spasm of masseter and it makes chewing difficult and painful. Ask
about dental malocclusion. The mucosa of the maxillary sinus may be lacerated and cause epistaxis
on that side. Severe pain may indicate retrobulbar haemorrhage - especially if associated with visual
loss or ophthalmoplegia.
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Note: if this is an alleged assault or an injury at the workplace, make detailed notes documenting
timing and circumstances of injury. Where possible, take photographs.
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3. .
Examination
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If this is part of a multiple trauma picture, go through the usual trauma pathway first before
focusing on the area of injury(ies).
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When examining these patients, you need to look for direct damage, associated damage (e.g. to
structures immediately adjacent to the area, such as the eye) and more peripheral damage (e.g. head
injury as a result of falling backwards following a blow).
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General points - look at the contour, note areas of bruising and obvious abrasions or lacerations.
Look for points of tenderness on gentle palpation. Note any surgical emphysema, oedema or
haemorrhage.
Ocular injury - eye injury is very common in midface trauma and may be present in as many as
30% of cases. Examine the lids (not forgetting the tear drainage ducts) and the globe as well as the
function of the eye - see separate article Examination of the Eye. Particular points to note (in both
eyes) include:
Extent of any subconjunctival haemorrhage.
Visual acuity.
Visual fields.
Pupillary light reflex.
Colour vision/saturation.
Extraocular motility/ophthalmoplegia.
Diplopia.
Hypoglobus (lowered pupillary level).
Enopthalmos (sunken eye).
Proptosis.

4. Where the eye is closed by swelling, check for the integrity of the optic nerve by asking the patient
to confirm presence/absence of light over the closed lid. Check also for impairment of sensation
below the eye.
Other injury - look for and exclude potential cervical or head injury.8
Note that extraocular muscle entrapment can cause an oculo-cardiac reflex leading to collapse.9
Muscle entrapment can also cause nausea and vomiting.
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Investigations
A plain X-ray of the skull is basic - standard views are facial, occiptomental and submento-vertical.
Interpretation may be difficult - systematically check for:7
The orbital outline - the droplet sign shows soft tissue prolapsing into the maxillary sinus in an
orbital floor fracture.
The sinus outline - any opacification or fluid level in the maxillary sinus is suggestive of a fracture.
An 'elephant's trunk' - follow the zygomatic line laterally and the maxillary line medially.
The coronoid processes which should be equidistant from the maxillary line bilaterally.
CT scanning is very useful to indicate more about distorted anatomy. A CT scan facial series is
often essential to planning surgery.10 CT may also show intracranial injury which may be present
in about half of patients. In about 75% of cases the fracture is displaced inferiorly, posteriorly and
medially. Displaced malar complex fractures may increase orbital volume due to angulation of the
zygomaticosphenoid suture or orbital floor blowout.11
Ultrasound is sometimes used for visualisation of the zygomatic arch and anterior wall of the frontal
sinus, particularly following reduction to avoid further radiation exposure.12
MRI scanning is inferior to CT scanning for demonstrating orbital floor fractures, but may have an
adjunctive role for demonstrating soft-tissue herniation.13 Consider the possibility of metallic
foreign bodies before arranging this.
Orbital floor fracture
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Features
This usually follows a blow from an object >5 cm (e.g. a tennis ball). The force may be transmitted
along the orbital rim or through the orbit, compressing the globe, which pushes into the orbital floor
('blowout' fracture). Clinical features vary with the severity of the trauma and the time between
trauma and presentation. Look for:8

5. .
Periorbital bruising, oedema, surgical emphysema.
Vertical diplopia (double vision, especially on looking up) with restriction of upgaze.
Enophthalmos (the eye is sunken).
Infraorbital anaesthesia (lower lid, cheek, side of nose, upper lip, upper teeth and gums).
It is worth noting that children may have a 'greenstick' fracture with significant muscle entrapment
but minimal bruising (a 'white-eye blowout'). They may have nausea and vomiting, especially on
upgaze.14
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Management
Tell the patient not to blow their nose for 10 days.
Arrange imaging as above; CT is particularly helpful. Liaise with ophthalmologists and
maxillofacial surgeons (depending on local protocol).
Some cases are managed conservatively with prophylactic broad-spectrum antibiotics (e.g. co-
amoxiclav) and outpatient monitoring.
Surgery is required if:14
This is a white-eye blowout in a child - surgery must be performed within 48-72 hours, as there is a
high risk of necrosis of the entrapped ocular muscle.
There is symptomatic enophthalmos of >2 mm (this can easily be measured in the eye clinic).
There is greater than 50% of the orbital floor involved.
Diplopia fails to resolve after 2-3 weeks.
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Complications
Globe injury.
Persistent diplopia requiring delayed surgery.
Optic nerve damage.
Medial orbital wall fracture

6. .
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Features
These are rare in isolation but may accompany orbital floor fractures. They are characterised by
subcutaneous emphysema, variable ecchymoses and medial rectus dysfunction (difficulty in
rotating the eye towards the nose, associated with diplopia). There may also be enophthalmos or
proptosis.
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Management
Similar to orbital floor fractures (see above). Surgical repair is considered if there is significant pain
or diplopia secondary to muscle entrapment.
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Complications
As for orbital roof fractures (see below).
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Orbital roof fracture
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Isolated orbital roof fractures are rare and can be encountered by minor trauma, e.g. falling on a
sharp object (e.g. umbrella tip) or a blow to the brow or the forehead. They are most common in
young children. Complicated fractures involving major trauma are more common in adults.
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Features
Haematoma of the upper lid and peri-ocular ecchymoses which may spread to the other side over a
few hours.
The globe may be inferiorly displaced and larger fractures may be associated with a pulsation of the
globe.
Look for a superior subconjunctival haemorrhage with no distinct posterior limit.

7. .
Management
Although small fractures may be managed conservatively, the patient needs to be monitored closely
for possible cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Larger fractures are usually managed surgically.
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Complications
Meningitis can occur following a CSF leak.
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Lateral orbital wall and zygomatic arch fracture
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An isolated lateral wall fracture of the orbit is rare as this is the strongest of the orbital walls.
Lateral wall fractures are therefore more commonly seen following significant maxillofacial trauma
involving the malar complex too. High-impact, blunt trauma to the cheek causes zygomatic
fractures; they are easy to overlook and, if displaced, require treating within 10 days.7 Usually, a
displaced fracture involves the orbitozygomatic complex:5
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The inferior orbital rim and orbital floor.
The zygomatico-frontal suture.
The zygomaticomaxillary buttress .
The zygomatic arch.
Occasionally, a direct blow can produce an isolated depressed fracture of the arch only. (For normal
anatomy, see Document reference1 below.)
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Features
Suspect a malar fracture where there is:7
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Periorbital oedema.

8. Ecchymosis of the lower lid.
Lateral subconjunctival haemorrhage.
Even without a true orbital 'blowout' fracture, entrapment of orbital contents, enophthalmos, and
diplopia with restriction of eye movement may occur because of the contributions of the zygomatic
bone to the orbital floor. Periorbital and subconjunctival haemorrhage occur in around 50% of
cases. Other features to note:
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Fracture of the zygoma may or may not be painful to palpation and running a finger along the
zygomatic arch may give a feel of a depressed fracture or a small dimple. The cheek may appear
flattened: compare symmetry with the opposite side from behind the patient's head - this is most
obvious immediately following trauma or several days later once swelling has subsided.
Posterior displacement of the fractured fragment may impair movement of the mandible, causing
difficulty with chewing. Look for decreased range of mouth opening (normal should be >30 mm).
Forceful nose blowing can produce subcutaneous emphysema as shown by crepitation or proptosis
and visual loss from orbital emphysema.
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Management6
A conservative approach is normal where there is no displacement of the fracture or minimal
displacement without other complications. Stable, undisplaced fractures should be observed weekly.
Patients must be under strict instruction to avoid blowing their nose.
Where surgery is necessary, timing of intervention should aim to allow oedema to start to subside
whilst not waiting for adhesion of displaced bone or the formation of dense scar tissue.
Where a patient has multiple injuries or is severely unwell, surgery is often delayed. Damage to the
globe takes precedence for repair.
Closed reduction techniques have largely been abandoned as they give more unsatisfactory
cosmetic and ophthalmological results but they may still be used where displacement is minimal.
If displacement is more than minimal or if other structures are involved, an open technique is used,
possibly involving plates to stabilise bone. The precise approach will depend upon the injuries seen
on the CT film and open surgical reconstruction may be also have to be undertaken.15
A multidisciplinary approach may be required in complex cases, using expertise from plastic
surgery, facio-maxillary surgery, ear, nose and throat (ENT) and neurosurgery, depending upon
other associated injuries.
A soft diet is usually required.
Attention should be payed to providing good analgesia. Antibiotics are normally prescribed with
complex fractures and a short course of steroids may be used to reduce inflammation.

9. Careful follow-up is required to ascertain that there is good functional recovery, including the
ability to eat and chew, eye position and normal facial anatomy.
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Complications6
Globe injury.
Injury to other orbital walls.
Failure to treat, risks cosmetic deformity or limited mandibular movement.
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Prognosis
Good prognosis is suggested by:
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Union of bones.
Lack of any deformity.
Full range of mandibular movement.
Prevention
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Seat belts are important in reducing injuries in road traffic accidents.16 It is possible that seat belts
appear to increase facial injuries because those who do not wear them suffer more severe injuries
and die. A Brazilian study looking at the relationship between facial injuries and seat belt wearing
suggested that:17
The driver position shows the highest incidence of facial fractures and was not effectively protected
against this by the use of a seat belt.
The wearing of seat belts seems to protect against facial fractures in front-seat passengers.
There was a high incidence of facial fractures among rear-seat passengers but it was not possible to
evaluate the effect of seat belt use in this group.
Alcohol and binge-drinking are major contributory factors to assaults and facial injury. Many argue
for harm-reduction measures such as the use, in licensed premises, of glasses and bottles made of
plastic, controlling drinks' prices and targeted policing.18 Other measures include the introduction
of minimum price per unit and modifying marketing and availability.19
Appropriate protective equipment may reduce sports-related injuries but the evidence is of poor
quality.20 Consider a fracture even if the person was not directly involved in the sport - a recent

10. study found that 26% of maxillofacial fractures sustained by unmounted equestrians were caused by
head-butts.21
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Document references
Gray's anatomy, anatomy of the skull (Fig 190), 1918; Gray's antatomy skull
Tollefson TT et al; Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Fractures, eMedicine, Sep 2009
Moulton and Yates; Lecture Notes in Emergency Medicine; Blackwell Publishing (2006)
Widdell T; Fracture, orbital, eMedicine, Mar 2008
Hwang K, You SH; Analysis of facial bone fractures: An 11-year study of 2,094 patients. Indian J
Plast Surg. 2010 Jan;43(1):42-8. [abstract]
Seiff SR et al; Orbital fracture, zygomatic, eMedicine, May 2009
Ceallaigh PO, Ekanaykaee K, Beirne CJ, et al; Diagnosis and management of common
maxillofacial injuries in the emergency department. Part 3: Orbitozygomatic complex and
zygomatic arch fractures. Emerg Med J. 2007 Feb;24(2):120-2.
Denniston AKO, Murray PI. Oxford Handbook of Ophthalmology, OUP (2008)
Lubbers HT, Zweifel D, Gratz KW, et al; Classification of potential risk factors for
trigeminocardiac reflex in J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2010 Jun;68(6):1317-21. Epub 2010 Mar 29.
[abstract]
Manson PN, Markowitz B, Mirvis S, et al; Toward CT-based facial fracture treatment. Plast
Reconstr Surg. 1990 Feb;85(2):202-12; discussion 213-4. [abstract]
Hopper RA, Salemy S, Sze RW; Diagnosis of midface fractures with CT: what the surgeon needs to
know. Radiographics. 2006 May-Jun;26(3):783-93. [abstract]
Friedrich RE, Heiland M, Bartel-Friedrich S; Potentials of ultrasound in the diagnosis of midfacial
fractures*. Clin Oral Investig. 2003 Dec;7(4):226-9. Epub 2003 Sep 30. [abstract]
Freund M, Hahnel S, Sartor K; The value of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of orbital
floor fractures. Eur Radiol. 2002 May;12(5):1127-33. Epub 2001 Nov 29. [abstract]
Jackson TL. Moorfields Manual of Ophthalmology, Mosby (2008)
Patel BC, Hoffmann J; Management of complex orbital fractures. Facial Plast Surg. 1998;14(1):83-
104. [abstract]
Ward NJ, Okpala E; Analysis of 47 road traffic accident admissions to BMH Shaibah. J R Army
Med Corps. 2005 Mar;151(1):37-40. [abstract]

11. Fonseca AS, Goldenberg D, Alonso N, et al; Seating position, seat belt wearing, and the
consequences in facial fractures in car occupants. Clinics. 2007 Jun;62(3):289-94. [abstract]
Cusens B, Shepherd J; Prevention of alcohol-related assault and injury. Hosp Med. 2005
Jun;66(6):346-8. [abstract]
Alcohol-use disorders - preventing harmful drinking, NICE Public Health Guidance (June 2010);
Alcohol-use disorders - preventing the development of hazardous and harmful drinking
Echlin PS, Upshur RE, Peck DM, et al; Craniomaxillofacial injury in sport: a review of prevention
research. Br J Sports Med. 2005 May;39(5):254-63. [abstract]
Antoun JS, Steenberg LJ, Lee KH; Maxillofacial fractures sustained by unmounted equestrians. Br J
Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2010 Apr 23. [abstract]
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Internet and further reading
Radiology picture of the day, Orbital blowout fracture; Coronal CT of facial bones demonstrating
orbital blowout injury
Cohen AJ; Facial trauma, zygomatic arch fractures, eMedicine, Jan 2009
Ceallaigh PO, Ekanaykaee K, Beirne CJ, et al; Diagnosis and management of common
maxillofacial injuries in the emergency department. Part 4: orbital floor and midface fractures.
Emerg Med J. 2007 Apr;24(4):292-3. [abstract]
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