Does the Lag Time Between Injury and Treatment Affect Recovery of Infraorbital Nerve Disturbances in Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Fractures?

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Neurosensory disturbances (NSDs) of the infraorbital nerve (ION) are common following orbito-zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lag time between injury and treatment on recovery of NSDs of the ION following open reduction internal fixation.

Methods: Subjects who had ZMC fracture and paresthesia were studied. The lag time between injury and treatment was considered as the predictive factor. The level of NSDs according to the brush test and two-point discrimination (TPD) test and self-reported NSD were the outcomes of this study. Self-reported NSD was quantified using a visual analog scale.

Results: Forty patients were studied. The lag time between injury and treatment had a significant correlation with the result of the TPD test and the self-reported level of NSD. In 73.6% of patients who had NSD following ZMC fracture, every 1-day delay in treatment increased the incidence of self-reported paresthesia by 0.44.

Conclusions: It seems, a delay in treatment of ZMC fractures increased the risk of NSD.