Hook elevation in reducing the isolated zygomatic arch fractures: is it really a simple and an effective method?

The efficacy of the bone hook elevation method to reduce isolated zygomatic arch fractures was evaluated. Thirty-seven patients with isolated and simple zygomatic arch fractures in whom bone hook elevation was performed between 1992 and 2000 were evaluated. In all the cases, adequate reduction was achieved without any serious complications. The complications encountered were 13.5% imperfect reduction, which could only be diagnosed radiologically, and 16.2% of transient frontal branch paralysis due to anesthesia. The bone hook elevation method is an easy and very inexpensive procedure for the immediate treatment of isolated simple zygomatic arch fractures.