Philadelphia 76ers All-star Joel Embiid fractured his eye socket (orbital bone) on March 28th after colliding with teammate Markelle Fultz lunging for a loose basketball. Embiid had no signs of concussion in the locker room, but was diagnosed with a concussion at the hospital. A CT scan identified the orbital fracture around his left eye.

The 76ers announced that Embiid will have surgery within a few days. That suggests that the bone is far enough out of place to benefit from surgery.

A common misconception is that surgery is necessary or that it helps bones heal more quickly. Bones take equal time to get to full strength with or without surgery. The use of metal implants is usually done for better alignment and for some bones that are less likely to heal without surgery.

Athletes are often willing to accept the risks of reinjury, returning prior to complete healing. Some athletes wear a mask to attempt to reduce the risk of reinjury while the bone is still healing and vulnerable. It was stated that Embiid will miss 2 to 4 weeks and could be available for the playoffs.

This article was made by Paul Bonilla and David Ring