A21-year-old man presents with a facial injury that occurred just prior to his arrival. he was struck in the left eye by a baseball. he is complaining of pain in the left side of his face and nasal area. visual acuity is 20/20. physical exam reveals mild left periorbital swelling and bruising and decreased sensation over the left maxillary area. slit lamp exam reveals a clear anterior chamber. ct scan reveals orbital air. what is the most likely diagnosis?

The best answer to the question: What is the most likely diagnosis, would be: Ethmoid bone fracture.

Explanation:

The reason for this being the diagnosis comes from two things: first knowing that the ethmoid bone is a skeletal structure that forms the root of the nose, it forms and separates the nasal cavity, and it also forms part of both eye sockets. Because of its composition, it can be liable to fracture, especially under certain traumatic circumstances. In this case, this man received one such trauma by being hit with a hard object, namely, a baseball. The second reason is the pain and the symptoms on the left eye and left side of the face and nasal area. This, paired with the findings of the physical assessment, as well as the results from the tests, all points towards the fracture of the ethmoid bone.