Suggest Treatment For Hairline Skull Fracture And One-sided Swelling On Face

Hi there

My boyfriend is working as a snowboard instructor in Japan, and, following a serious accident, has been advised by a local surgeon that he should be fine to return to work almost immediately.

The injury occurred as a result of a collision with a snowboard to his head. He has huge cut, which required 7 staples, and will shortly be requiring stitches, but he also has a hairline skull fracture, which is what I am most concerned about.

There was also a huge amount of swelling around one side of his face, rendering him unable to open his eye. Following a CT Scan, the neurosurgeon who dealt with him advised him that as soon as the swelling went down, he should be able to return to work as a snowboard coach.

I am very concerned that a mere few days after a skull fracture is not an appropriate amount of time for recovery, and surely extreme sports, which involve a dramatically increased risk of further head injury, are the last thing somebody in his position should be considering.

Obviously it is very difficult for you to properly advise me without having access to the scan, but if this seems like a strange diagnosis to you then I will push for him to see another doctor, but this is unfortunately quite difficult, as the nearest hospital to the ski resort is several hours away.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated, and naturally this is a very urgent matter.

Thanks,
Georgina