The Success of Zygomatic Implant in Rehabilitation of Post-Mucormycosis Cases: A Systematic Review

Abstract Introduction: Maxillectomy, performed in mucormycosis cases can significantly disrupt critical oral functions and lead to severe facial deformity. Zygomatic implants offer a remote bone anchoring solution for severe maxillary atrophy or defects resulting from resection. However, there remains a scarcity of studies addressing the success of zygomatic implants in mucormycosis cases. Therefore, our systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of zygomatic implants (ZI) in the prosthetic rehabilitation of patients recovering from mucormycosis. Methods: The systematic search used PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Google Scholar to retrieve articles. Publications addressing ZI for COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) or non-CAM studies with a minimum follow-up period of 3–12 months were considered for inclusion. Results: A total of nine publications were reviewed. All studies showed that prosthesis rehabilitation with ZI improved phonation, chewing, deglutition, aesthetics, and satisfactory bone deficit management function. Only one study observed a significant reduction in stress and anxiety levels after ZI surgery. Complications such as moderate soft tissue infections, prosthesis loosening, occlusal discrepancies, and one implant failure were reported. Conclusions: Zygomatic implants seem to be a reliable, safe, and effective treatment option for enhancing the functional and psychological recovery of facial deformity caused by mucormycosis. Nonetheless, this conclusion is founded on a small number of studies. Hence, prospective large-scale cohort studies or clinical trials are recommended.