A broken nose involves a fracture in the bone or cartilage of the nose. The injury typically occurs due to some form of trauma or blow to the face. A broken nose oftentimes occurs along with other facial or neck injuries. Due to this, those who sustained a broken nose must be carefully assessed by a doctor.
Anyone can end up with a fractured nose and a common injury among those who engage in contact sports. The injury might become evident due to the obvious deformity of the nose. Remember that it is not advisable to attempt to realign any deformity.
A damaged nose can heal without any lasting or severe complications. Nevertheless, a significant break can be serious and surgery is often required to fix the damage and restore the nose to its original form.
Indications of a broken nose
Some of the indications of a broken nose might arise right after the injury while others manifest after 1-2 days. Even though they might appear severe, these are the usual symptoms:
- Bruising
- Bloody nose
- Deformed nose or change in the form of the nose
- Swelling
- Pain in the nose
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing via the nose
What are the causes?
A broken nose is usually brought about by some form of impact or force to the face. Even though the nose is flexible, an impact that is strong enough can rip the cartilage or break the bones around the nose.
Being struck by a ball to the face can easily break the nose. It is important to note that a broken nose can occur from a vehicular accident or any scenario involving impact to the face from rapid acceleration or deceleration.
Management
A broken nose is managed in various ways based on the location and severity of the damage. Pain medications are the mainstay of the treatment since pain is always present in such injuries. The application of ice over the broken nose is also beneficial.
In case the form of the nose is affected, surgery might be needed to fix the damage. In severe cases of nasal fractures that result to a blood clot or leaves an opening into the space inside the skull, immediate surgical intervention is needed.
Quick Note / Disclaimer
The material posted on this page on a broken nose is for learning and educational purposes only. To learn to recognize and manage fractures, register for a first aid and CPR course with Toronto First Aid.