Make an Appointment
Talk to DoctorOverview
When the bones or cartilage in the nose crack or split, it results in a broken or fractured nose. This can lead to breathing difficulties, nosebleeds, and pain. The term nasal fracture is often used interchangeably with a broken nose.
With a broken nose, inflammation and bruising around the nose and under eye area may develop. It can also lead to breathing difficulties particularly when it is crooked or misshapen. In severe cases, it can lead to nasal hematoma.
Contact sports, physical fights, falls, and car accidents that result in facial injuries are all common causes of a broken nose. A minor nasal fracture may heal on its own. However, in severe or multiple fractures, treatment or surgery may be necessary to realign the broken nose.
Symptoms
People with fractured nose may experience the following signs and symptoms:
- Tenderness and pain
- Swelling in and around the nose
- Bruising around the nose or eyes
- Nosebleeds
- Nasal obstruction
- Nasal septal hematoma
- Deformed or misshapen nose
- Trouble breathing through the nose
- Mucus discharge from the nose
While a broken nose may not always require emergency care, it is important to seek medical attention promptly. Seeking early treatment can decrease the risk of long-term complications, such as breathing difficulties or deformities.
If a nosebleed continues despite initial attempts to stop it, if breathing becomes compromised, if there is a head or neck injury present, if the nose looks misshapen, or if there is clear fluid leaking from the nose, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
Causes
A fractured nose can arise from blunt force trauma. It commonly happens during physical fights, falls, motor vehicle collisions, and sports-related injuries. Walking into a stationary object, such as a door or wall, or aggressive, wrestling-style play, can also result in a fractured nose.
Risk factors
Nasal fractures are quite prevalent, accounting for between 40% to 50% of all facial injuries. Statistically, it is likely to happen in men than women.
Certain activities also increase one’s risk of a broken nose, such as bicycle riding, getting into a physical fight, weightlifting, playing contact sports without protection, and driving without a seatbelt.
Diagnosis
To diagnose a broken nose, a healthcare provider will typically begin with a physical examination. During this examination, they will gently press across the bridge of the nose and inspect the nasal passages for any obstructions. Additionally, they will assess the surrounding areas of the nose and look for other signs of bone fractures. Numbing medication may be given during the examination.
Depending on the severity of the injury, the doctor may request additional tests, such as an X-ray or CT scan to thoroughly examine the broken nose.
Treatment
The appropriate treatment is determined by the degree of injury. Treatment options typically range from icing the nose to surgery. Minor injuries may be treated by applying ice to the affected area and taking over-the-counter pain relievers. If a nasal fracture does not result in a crooked or deformed nose, realignment or surgery may not be necessary. A fractured nose typically heals in three to six weeks.
- Manual realignment: A healthcare provider will need to realign the nasal bones if they have slipped out of position as a result of the injury. This usually requires numbing the nose with topical anesthetic before gently pushing the bones and cartilage back into position. Specialized equipment to straighten the shattered bones and cartilage is sometimes used. Depending on the age of the patient and the severity of the injuries, general anesthesia may be required.
After realigning the nasal bones, the doctor may put gauze packing inside the nostrils and a dressing on the outside of the nose. In some cases, temporary splint may be applied. In one to two weeks, packing and dressing can be removed. Antibiotics are also prescribed to prevent infection from the bacteria found in the nose.
There can be a few days of waiting before doing a manual adjustment in order for the swelling to subside first. Generally, the procedure must be completed within 14 days of the fracture, or earlier.
- Surgery: Surgery is often recommended to realign nasal bones and improve breathing difficulties in severely broken nose, including those that have several breaks and those that were left untreated for more than two weeks. In case the fracture has caused damage to your nasal passage, you may experience a feeling of blockage while breathing or a sensation of having a congested nose. In such instances, reconstructive surgery may be advised as a treatment.
