Facial Impact/Deviated septum

[BNow0707]

Here's the story. On labor day afternoon I was trying to help my girlfriend down out of the boat. She rolls on her side and pops me in the face with her knee cap. It was a really hard lick it knocked me backwards and to the ground. With a loud cracking noise coming from my face, im a little worried about diving before i see the ENT. I'm relativley certain my septum is deviated as my right nostril is only open about 1/2 as much as my left. My nose and area around my eyes swelled up a bit and bled a little. That night my face and teeth were hurting on the left side very similar to when you get a sinus infection. Then on friday I realized that I can move my septum from side to side about a 1/8 of an inch up top near the bone on the bridge of my nose.

I have been planning on going diving this weekend the quarry were going to is only about 60 feet deep. My question is should I cancel my dives because of the unknown damages that may be present or should I be ok. I have an appointment with an ENT next tuesday.

 

[doctormike]

Here's the story. On labor day afternoon I was trying to help my girlfriend down out of the boat. She rolls on her side and pops me in the face with her knee cap. It was a really hard lick it knocked me backwards and to the ground. With a loud cracking noise coming from my face, im a little worried about diving before i see the ENT. I'm relativley certain my septum is deviated as my right nostril is only open about 1/2 as much as my left. My nose and area around my eyes swelled up a bit and bled a little. That night my face and teeth were hurting on the left side very similar to when you get a sinus infection. Then on friday I realized that I can move my septum from side to side about a 1/8 of an inch up top near the bone on the bridge of my nose.

I have been planning on going diving this weekend the quarry were going to is only about 60 feet deep. My question is should I cancel my dives because of the unknown damages that may be present or should I be ok. I have an appointment with an ENT next tuesday.

It sounds as if you could have broken your nose... the most important thing to be checked in that situation (within 24 hours of injury) is that there is no septal hematoma. A septal hematoma is a collection of blood under the lining of the septum. If there is, and it is not drained, the septal cartilage can break down and you can end up with a permanent deformity of the nose, which can be very difficult to fix. This is easily checked for by any experienced doctor who can look in your nose with a light (not necessarily an ENT, but it should be someone with experience looking for this problem).

If there is no hematoma, you may have just dislocated the septum or broken the nose - both of which can be addressed, but usually should be done within a week or so of the injury. If you wait too long, you might end up needing a bigger operation.

Diving itself shouldn't cause any problem with these types of injuries, but if you have broken your nose, the mask might be painful, etc...

See if you can see an ENT doctor sooner... if you tell me where you are writing from, I might be able to give you a recommendation..

Best,

Mike

 

[BNow0707]

I'm in Oxford, Al. I have an appointment with Dr. Bateman in Anniston, Al set for next tuesday the 16th. My problem was that the accident happened just before I was leaving to go out of town for a week long review course. And this week Dr. Bateman is out of town and has a doctor seeing his emergency patients. It might also be of note for me to mention that I have had septal deviation repair surgery before also done by Dr. Bateman. I dont remeber the exact date but it was between 8-5 years ago.

 

[doctormike]

I'm in Oxford, Al. I have an appointment with Dr. Bateman in Anniston, Al set for next tuesday the 16th. My problem was that the accident happened just before I was leaving to go out of town for a week long review course. And this week Dr. Bateman is out of town and has a doctor seeing his emergency patients. It might also be of note for me to mention that I have had septal deviation repair surgery before also done by Dr. Bateman. I dont remeber the exact date but it was between 8-5 years ago.

OK, sorry... I don't know anyone in that area. Good luck, and feel free to keep us posted...

Mike

 

[BNow0707]

Little update. I did go ahead w/ my dive plans for the weekend with no noticeable problems. We made 3 dives with a max depth of 47 feet and avg depth of about 40 feet. I did go to the ENT and the septum is deviated. Opted not to have the septal repair surgery for now.

 

[doctormike]

Little update. I did go ahead w/ my dive plans for the weekend with no noticeable problems. We made 3 dives with a max depth of 47 feet and avg depth of about 40 feet. I did go to the ENT and the septum is deviated. Opted not to have the septal repair surgery for now.

Glad to hear that you are diving again! Almost everyone's septum is a little deviated, you only need to have it fixed if it is causing significant symptoms (like nasal obstruction or blockage of the sinuses)...

Best,

Mike