The importance of the mortice and tenon joint on the zygomatic arch in reduction malarplasty-a retrospective study

The aim of this study was to compare two kinds of reduction malarplasty in terms of their bony consolidation. Patients that underwent reduction malarplasty were reviewed retrospectively. The medial movement of the zygomatic body and the zygomatic arch as well as the complications and satisfaction of patients were investigated. The surgical procedure entailed a classical or modified L-shaped osteotomy through intraoral and sideburn approaches. Two groups were distinguished, those for whom a mortice and tenon joint was formed on the zygomatic arch (Group I), and those that formed end-to-end bone contact (Group II). All the cases in Group I showed an improved facial contour with sufficient bone contact. A larger medial movement of the zygomatic arch was observed in Group I (4.54 ± 0.41 mm) than in Group II (2.72 ± 0.29 mm) (P = 0.016). More bone malunion was observed in six cases of Group II (P = 0.030) and four required a second operation. In conclusion, this study indicates that the mortice and tenon approach is preferable when the priority is bony consolidation.