Caracterización clínica de las fracturas del complejo cigomático-malar en urgencias del Hospital Militar Central, 2018–2023

Introduction: Globally, fractures of the malar bone and zygomatic arch are among the most common injuries in facial trauma, making them a key focus at referral centers such as Central Military Hospital (Bogotá Colombia). Objective: To determine the clinical characteristics and frequency of patients with unilateral or bilateral zygomaticomalar complex fractures. Design: Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients evaluated in the Emergency Department at Hospital Militar Central for facial trauma with zygomaticomalar complex fractures between January 2018 and December 2023. Results: Most patients were male (90.9%, 40/44; 95% CI, 82.3–99.5), with a mean age of 38.6 ± 20.5 years. Traffic accidents were the most common mechanism of injury (54.5%, 24/44; 95% CI, 39.7–69.3). The most common clinical finding was facial asymmetry with ocular involvement (59.1%, 26/44; 95% CI, 44.2–73.9). According to the Knight and North classification, type IV was the most frequent fracture pattern (34.1%, 15/44; 95% CI, 20.3–47.9). Surgical intervention was the most common treatment approach (86.4%, 38/44; 95% CI, 76.2–96.5). Conclusions: At Central Military Hospital (Bogotá Colombia), traffic accidents were the leading mechanism of zygomaticomalar fracture trauma. Facial asymmetry with ocular involvement predominated, and type IV was the most frequent fracture pattern.