RESUMO
PURPOSE: The location of the zygomatic bone plays an important role in facial symmetry and esthetics. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the frequency of facial asymmetry in a sample of patients who had undergone treatment of unilateral zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures (study group) and a sample of patients without ZMC fracture (control group). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective controlled cross-sectional study. The primary predictor variable was the type of ZMC fracture (linear or comminuted). The primary outcome variable was facial asymmetry characterized by the bilateral difference in the position of the malar eminence (ME) in 3 dimensions based on computed tomographic images. The other variables for this study were classified as demographic (age and gender) and anatomic (side of ZMC fracture). Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. Statistical significance was set at a P value less than .05 with 95% reliability. RESULTS: The entire sample consisted of 134 patients (n = 67 per group). The mean bilateral difference of the ME position in the study group was markedly greater than in the control group. More than half the study patients had facial symmetry and almost 10% of them had marked asymmetry, whereas none of the control patients had marked asymmetry. All patients with marked asymmetry and approximately 70% of them with greater than maximum normal asymmetry had a comminuted fracture. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that although the frequency of facial asymmetry in patients with ZMC fracture was higher than in the control patients, it was found in all patients to a certain extent. Patients' awareness of this fact can decrease their dissatisfaction.