Zygomatic Fracture
A zygomatic fracture is a break involving the cheekbone and surrounding facial structures.
When to get help quickly: Prompt hospital review is important after facial injury if there is double vision, reduced vision, heavy swelling, numbness, or obvious facial deformity.
Common symptoms
Symptoms may include cheek pain, swelling, bruising, flattening of the cheek, double vision, numbness over the cheek or upper lip, and difficulty opening the mouth fully.
When imaging helps
Imaging helps confirm the fracture, show whether the cheekbone has moved out of place, and check whether the eye socket or nearby facial bones are involved.
What radiology does
CT of the facial bones is often the most useful test because it shows the fracture pattern and displacement clearly.
What usually happens next
Treatment depends on displacement, symptoms, and eye or facial involvement and may range from observation to facial surgery.
Seen this on your report?
Your doctor or the radiologist who wrote it can tell you what it means for you.