Efeitos da fratura do arco zigomático no crescimento facial em ratos jovens

the effect of unilateral zygomatic arch fracture on facial growth was analysed by means of cephalometric measurements. medially displaced fracture of the right side was achieved in one month old rats. reaching three months the animals were sacrified, and their mandibles disarticulated. the skull was submitted to axial radiographic incidence and the hemimandibles to a lateral radiographic incidence. the measurements were made through a computer system. significant differences were verified with a decrease in body height and ramus of the mandible. there was no significant difference in infratemporal fossae depth, as well as in diverse measurements in maxilla and in mandibular lenght. the tendency of the fractured arch to return to its original position was confirmed.