Footballer’s eye pops out of its socket after horror collision

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen underwent a three hour surgery to repair his face after the footballer suffered horrendous injuries in a match against Inter Milan.

Osimhen was felled by a collision with Inter defender Milan Skriniar and had to have six plates and 18 screws fitted in emergency surgery which took three hours.

Skriniar and Osimhen went up for the same ball and their heads clashed, knocking the Nigerian out cold and sending him to the hospital.

Horror football injury requires three-hour surgery

The 24-year-old is facing an extended layoff as he recovers from the injuries, and will likely need to use protective headgear when or if he returns to football.

The surgeon, Gianpaolo Tartaro, explains: “He had a series of fractures, it was as if his head had ended up under a press.

“The eye came out of its socket. It is not simple at all, in fact it is very delicate due to the crushing of the socket, due to the curving of the malar bone [which is] practically destroyed.

“The various fractures, not only the cheekbone, obviously brought complications and six plates and 18 screws had to be inserted.

“[Surgery] took three hours, we had to cut him in three places on his face,” Tartaro told Corriere dello Sport.

“We have to now look at a special mask for his case. It is not something banal, there is a nerve there, it is all very difficult. We will see how his situation evolves.”

The surgeon stressed that the injuries were very serious and that Osimhen is not entirely out of the woods yet.

“Victor has to be very careful because if there is a problem he must return to the operating room,” he added.

Osimhen had been enjoying a fine run of form, netting nine goals in 14 appearances for the Neopolitan club.

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