Advances in facial fracture care in patients with zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures.

Purpose of review: Zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures pose both functional and aesthetic challenges, requiring careful surgical planning to optimize outcomes while minimizing morbidity. Recent advancements in surgical planning, fixation strategies, and implant technology have refined the approach to ZMC fracture repair. This review highlights these developments and discusses their implications for surgical decision-making, emphasizing strategies that balance reduction accuracy with the least invasive intervention.

Recent findings: Studies suggest that minimizing fixation points in properly selected ZMC fractures does not compromise patient satisfaction or postoperative symmetry. Intraoperative CT is increasingly utilized and has been shown to reduce unnecessary incisions and implants while improving reduction accuracy. Computer aided surgical planning has demonstrated improved surgical precision through preoperative planning, guiding plate placement, and enhancing anatomical symmetry. Additionally, patient specific implants (PSIs) have emerged as valuable tools in complex or revision cases, offering more precise reconstruction with reduced operative time. Augmented reality (AR) is a rapidly emerging technology that holds promise for surgical planning and navigation for ZMC fracture repair.

Summary: Wider adoption of intraoperative CT has improved surgical assessment, while advances in computer aided surgical planning and patient specific implants continue to refine surgical workflows and outcomes. As technology evolves, future research should focus on optimizing cost-effectiveness and further integrating digital planning tools. AR, still in its preliminary stages, may represent a significant innovation in enhancing surgical precision and visualization during ZMC fracture repair.