What is a cheekbone fracture?
A cheekbone fracture, also called a zygomatic fracture, is when the zygomatic bone in your face breaks. It’s usually caused by blunt trauma, like a fall or a blow to the face. It’s important to understand the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for a fractured cheekbone so you can get help quickly and recover well.
This article will cover the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options (both conservative and surgical), recovery, and potential complications of a fractured cheekbone.
Causes and types of cheekbone fractures
Cheekbone fractures are typically caused by some kind of blunt trauma, such as a sports injury or a fall. Physical altercations and motor vehicle accidents can also cause this type of fracture.
There are several types of cheekbone fractures, including:
- Non-displaced fractures. The bone is broken, but the pieces remain in alignment.
- Displaced fractures. The broken pieces of bone have shifted out of their normal position.
- Comminuted fractures. The bone is broken into multiple pieces.
Cheekbone fractures can also involve the orbit, or eye socket, or other bones in the face.
Symptoms of a Cheekbone Fracture
If you’ve broken your cheekbone, you might experience any of the following:
- Pain and Tenderness: You’ll likely have pain right on your cheekbone, which may worsen when you move your face.
- Swelling and Bruising: Expect swelling and bruising around your cheek, eye, and possibly further down your face.
- Facial Asymmetry: Your face shape may change, with one side looking different from the other.
- Difficulty Opening Mouth: Moving your jaw may hurt, and you might not be able to open your mouth fully.
- Numbness or Tingling: You could feel numbness or tingling in your cheek, upper lip, or teeth if nerves are involved.
- Vision Changes: If the fracture affects your eye socket (orbit), you might have double vision or blurred vision.
- Sunken Appearance: The area where your cheekbone should be may look flat or sunken in.
Diagnosing a cheekbone fracture
Doctors diagnose cheekbone fractures through a combination of:
- Physical exam: Doctors look for swelling, bruising, and any unevenness in the face.
- Imaging:
- X-rays help doctors see the bones and find fractures.
- CT scans provide a more detailed view, especially for complex fractures.
- Vision assessment: Doctors will check for double vision or other vision problems.
- Neurological exam: Doctors will check for nerve damage that affects sensation in your face.
Treatment options for cheekbone fractures
The treatment for a broken cheekbone depends on how bad the break is. If it’s a minor break and the bones are still lined up correctly, you may not need surgery.
Conservative treatment
Minor, non-displaced fractures can be treated with:
- OTC pain relievers. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help with the pain.
- Cold compresses. Ice packs will help reduce swelling and pain.
- A soft diet. Soft foods will keep you from moving your jaw too much and putting pressure on the cheekbone.
- Restricted activity. You’ll want to avoid activities that could hurt your cheekbone more.
- Monitoring. You’ll need to see your healthcare provider regularly to make sure the fracture is healing correctly.
Surgical treatment
If the fracture is displaced, involves the eye socket, or is causing functional problems, you’ll likely need surgery.
The two main surgical options are:
- Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The surgeon will make a cut to get to the fracture site, then put the bone fragments back into the right position and hold them there with plates and screws.
- Closed reduction. The surgeon will move the bone fragments into alignment without making a cut. This might be an option if the fracture isn’t too bad.
Cheekbone fracture surgery: procedure and risks
If your cheekbone is severely fractured, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the damage.
Surgical procedure
Here’s what you can expect during surgery to repair a broken cheekbone:
- Anesthesia: You’ll likely be given general anesthesia so you’re asleep during the procedure.
- Incision: The surgeon will make cuts to reach the broken bone, often inside your mouth or along the natural creases in your skin.
- Reduction and fixation: The surgeon will move the bone fragments back into the correct position and hold them in place with plates and screws.
- Closure: The cuts will be closed with stitches.
Risks of surgery
As with any surgery, there are some risks involved:
- Infection: Infections can occur after any surgery.
- Nerve damage: There’s a chance of damaging nerves in your face, which can cause numbness or weakness.
- Scarring: You may have visible scars from the cuts.
- Vision problems: You could experience double vision or other vision issues, especially if the area around your eye socket was involved in the break.
- Hardware problems: The plates and screws used to hold the bone in place could become loose or cause irritation.
Healing and Recovery
Expect a broken cheekbone to take around 6 to 8 weeks to heal completely. But this can depend on how bad the break was and other individual factors.
After surgery, follow your doctor’s instructions. These will include:
- Wound Care: Carefully clean and care for the surgical site.
- Pain Management: Take pain medication as prescribed.
- Activity Restrictions: Avoid strenuous activities.
- Diet: Stick to soft foods until your surgeon says you can eat normally again.
- Physical Therapy: You might need physical therapy to help with jaw movement and facial muscle strength.
- Avoiding Activities: Don’t play contact sports or do anything that could hurt your cheekbone again.
- Follow-up Appointments: Go to all your follow-up appointments so the surgeon can check on your healing.
What happens if a cheekbone fracture goes untreated?
Without treatment, a fractured cheekbone can lead to several complications:
- Facial asymmetry: The shape of your face could change permanently.
- Malocclusion: Your teeth may not line up correctly.
- Chronic pain: You might experience ongoing pain in your cheek area.
- Vision problems: You could develop double vision or other vision issues.
- Nerve damage: You might experience permanent numbness or weakness in your face.
- Difficulty chewing: Moving your jaw could become painful, limiting your ability to chew.
Final Thoughts
If you suspect you have a cheekbone fracture, seek medical attention right away. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for the best outcome.
If left untreated, cheekbone fractures can lead to permanent facial deformities and functional problems. Talk to a healthcare professional for personalized advice and care tailored to your specific situation.