Statistical analysis was made in 85 patients with malar bone fracture referred to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Nara Medical University Hospital from October, 1981 to September 1985. The following results were obtained:
1) Fractures of the malar bone were diagnosed in 35% of 238 patients with maxillofacial fractures during this period.
2) Traffic accidents were the most frequent cause (68.2%), especially by motor cycles. Then falling and working accidents followed.
3) Fifty-seven cases (67.1%) were referred to the clinic within a week after injury. 4.7% were referred over 2 months after injury.
4) Thirty-eight cases (44.7%) were complicated with a maxillary fracture, and 15.3% with mandibular fracture.
5) According to the classification by Knight & North, the group III (unrotated body fracture) was most frequent (36.2%), and then the group II (arch fracture) was followed (23.1%).
6) In zygomatic arch fractures, a v-shaped depression type and vertical depression type were dominant in simple fractures. The other cases, combined with body fractures, were mostly of overlapped and greenstick type.
