ABSTRACT
The typical patient is a young (20-30 years of age) male (80%) involved in an altercation or road traffic accident. The classic ‘tripod’ fracture actually has four components.
• Zygomatic bone at the zygomaticofrontal (ZF) suture. This is the strongest part of the ‘tripod’ and if fractured should prompt the active exclusion of other fractures
• Temporal bone alone the zygomatic arch 1.5cm posterior to the zygomaticotemporal (ZT) suture
• Zygomaticomaxillary buttress in the orbital margin/floor and anterior wall of the maxillary sinus
• Greater wing of the sphenoid in the lateral orbit.
