Acute frontal sinus barotrauma

A 25-year-old man presented to the emergency department with an acute onset of frontal sinus pain during descent on a commercial airliner. There was no history of recent upper respiratory infection, sinus infection, or chronic allergic rhinitis. Sinus radiographs demonstrated a left frontal sinus submucosal hematoma. Symptoms improved within 24 hours with systemic and topical decongestants/vasoconstrictors and a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent. He was asymptomatic at 1 week postinjury.