Anquan Boldin is a rising star in the NFL constellation, but he is oft injured. We’ve covered his treatment for knee bone bruise, but now he has an injury that is much worse. He’s fractured his sinus cavity. Honestly, I had no idea you could actually fracture your sinus cavity.
His injury occurred in the Cardinals-Jets game when New York Jets safety Eric Smith nailed Boldin at the end of the game. It was a vicious hit and drew a $50,000 fine from the NFL. You can watch a video here.
The thing you need to understand is that the sinus cavity is actually the paranasal sinuses. They are pockets of open bone space in your face designed to actually prevent trauma to your head. Some think of them like the airbags for your face.
While most injuries in the sinuses are related to infection, you can damage them through trauma.
How do you fracture your sinus? Trauma. It could be a car accident, skiing incident or a safety popping you in the face with his helmet.
What are the symptoms of a fractured sinus? Swelling in the facial area and a headache will be the most prominent symptoms. You may also experience drainage.
How do you diagnose a fractured sinus? The best way is through a CT scan. You will not be able to diagnose this at home or by reading this page. You need to see a doctor if something is wrong.
How do you treat a fractured sinus? It depends on the severity. If the injury isn’t that severe then time is given for healing to occur. A more severe injury will require surgery, while really severe injuries will require immediate surgery. This is due to the fact you are at increased risk of infection or even brain injury.
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How long does it take for a fractured sinus to heal? Without surgery it’s going to take a week or two. A surgical solution will push the recovery out until four weeks.