I have a zygomatic arch fracture with no deformities. What happends if I don't get surgery?

Thank you for your question. If the fracture is not displaced, closely approximated, it will heal fine. If it is displaced, you may need surgery and internal reduction and fixation to achieve optimal healing. I hope this helps!

Treatment for zygomatic arch fractures really depends on the specific fracture. These fractures have the potential to result in either a cosmetic deformity and/or a functional issue. Many zygomatic fractures which have good bony alignment despite the fracture do not require any treatment at all. In these situations, the bone will heal completely and will not require surgery. However, if the fracture is significantly depressed inward or displaced outward, this can potentially be visible as an external depression or as an area of increased facial width. Some of this will depend on the individual's overall facial features and structure as well. For instance, patients with round faces that have more fat will not show as much of a deformity as patients who have very thin faces with little fat. Functionally, if the bone is depressed inward, it has the potential to limit or cause pain with jaw opening as the depressed bone fragment can impinge the underlying muscle or portion of the mandible (jaw bone). Ultimately, if an isolated zygomatic arch fracture goes unrepaired and there is an external contour irregularity, this can potentially be camouflaged with fillers as well.

Thanks for your question, and I'm sorry to hear about your injury. The zygomatic arch connects your cheek bone with the bone that contains your hearing apparatus. The muscles of chewing run underneath it. It's an important structure for facial width and symmetry. Zygomatic arch fractures are commonly sustained following a car crash, an assault, or a fall. I'm assuming you had a CT scan of your facial bones. If the bone is not displaced, meaning it is merely cracked but sitting where it should be, it should heal fine without any intervention. You'd need to eat soft foods for the next six weeks while the healing process goes on- your chewing muscles can pull the arch out of place. We reserve repair for situations where the chewing muscles are affected or you'd have a major deformity. Surgery can vary in intensity from merely popping the bone back into place to using titanium plates and screws to move and hold the bones in place while they heal. If there isn't any deformity, you probably will be fine. If you have any subtle asymmetry after the healing finishes, this can be camouflaged with fillers or an implant. Good luck!

It is possible that you will heal totally normally or with a change in your cheek bone that is perfectly acceptable. However, in many cases, the final result is camouflaged by swelling and asymmetries only become apparent after you've completely healed and after the window for fracture repair has closed. If that is the case, either injectable fillers or a cheek implant can be used to recreate asymmetry of the fractured cheek. I hope this information is helpful for you.Stephen Weber MD, FACSDenver Facial Plastic Surgeon