Management of Extraoral Complications in a Patient Treated with Four Zygomatic Implants

This article details the significant complications associated with treatment of a patient who underwent maxillary reconstruction based entirely on zygomatic implants. The use of zygomatic implants is becoming increasingly widespread, and treatment has been shown to be predictable and generally free of surgical complications. However, extending from the maxillary alveolus, alongside or through the maxillary antrum, toward the zygoma or orbital rim, these long implants have the potential to create a range of complications that may be more serious than those encountered with conventional dental implants. In the case presented, complications included implant failure, prominence of the implant apices, recurrent loosening of the implant prosthesis, and, most significantly, extraoral infection associated with the apex of one implant. The authors describe the complications and remedial surgical treatment for this patient. Keywords: cone-beam computed tomography, extraoral complications, implant apicoectomy, zygomatic implants