Treatment of a Broken Nose

Causes of nasal fractures

The most common bone injury is in the case of a broken nose. According to several studies on facial fractures, half of the facial fractures involved a broken nose. Hitting your nose by other people, having an accident such as a collision with a door, an accident, or in sports can always be upsetting.

Symptoms of a broken nose

Breaking the nose affects the bones and cartilage.

• Blood clots in the area of the nasal septum (nosebleed).
• Breathing issue and pain in the nasal area.
• Nose swelling inside and outside of the nose.
• Bruising around the eyes.

Note that in this case, you should see a rhinoplasty surgeon immediately.

Time to see a doctor for a broken nose

After hitting the nose, it is a priority to get to see a doctor as soon as possible. If the impact was severe enough to cause bleeding from both or one of the nostrils over a period of more than a few minutes, it could also cause the skin of the nose to rupture, severe headaches, feel sick, while the pain and swelling don’t go away after three days and change the shape of the nose and at the same time cause difficulty in breathing, there is a possibility of a serious injury that requires medical attention. If you are in doubt your nose is broken, see an ENT, within a week after the injury.

3 to 5 days after a breaking nose, means, that when the swelling and bruising disappear, the person should see an ENT doctor or maxillofacial surgeon. Initial care should not last more than 5 days. If you are late to go to the doctor, especially if this delay lasts more than 7-10 days, the broken bone of the nose will fix with the same deformity.

Diagnosis of nasal fractures

When you see a head, neck and nose specialist

• The doctor uses a special device to examine the outside and inside of the nose. One would expect this examine to be a little painful.
• Nose imaging can be done in certain situations.
• In cases of severe nasal fractures, we may need a CT scan of the head and face

You will probably need to wait several months for nasal fractures to be treated before having rhinoplasty. If you leave your troubled nose untreated, you may experience an unpleasant appearance on your face as well as serious breathing problems.

Treatment without rhinoplasty

When the nasal fracture is mild and the septum is not displaced and the doctor does not need a nose job, the following measures can be taken for treatment in nasal care.

Put some ice in a cloth or bag and put it on your nose for 15 minutes and then remove. You can do this process once an hour during the day. Using ice for one to two days after injury can be helpful in reducing pain and swelling. Take a break while doing this and never put ice directly on your skin.

• You can use medications prescribed by your doctor, such as acetaminophen, to reduce pain.
• If the nose continues to bleed, over-the-counter or nonprescription medicine decongestants should not be used. In this case, we must seek medical treatment.
• keep your head up when you want to sleep to prevent further swelling. You can use several pillows under your head to do this.

Treatment of nasal fractures

If two weeks have passed since the injury to the nose, see a doctor to treat a broken nose and follow medical instructions.

• For noses that are simple to fracture and the nasal bone is not displaced, your doctor will usually prescribe painkillers, ice, and nasal decongestants.
• For significant fractures, the doctor usually tries to replace the nasal bone. To do this, your doctor may use painkillers, local anesthetics, and special tools.
• Treatment of nasal fractures is often done after the swelling of the nose has subsided.
• Not all nasal fractures can be placed in the emergency department. Some fractures require an ENT specialist. If nosebleeds continue, your doctor may put a pack into your nose.
• A layer of soft gauze is inserted into the nostrils to stop the bleeding completely. The ENT specialist will remove the gauze after 2-3 days.
• Antibiotics and painkillers may also be prescribed by your doctor while your nostrils are closed with gauze.

If there are other injuries, they will be examined and treated.

Treatment of a broken nose with rhinoplasty

After a period of two to three months from the nose fracture and getting better swelling the period of treatment of your nose will be started. By reducing swelling, it gives the surgeon a more accurate picture of the initial appearance of the nose. This treatment with rhinoplasty will be smoother for the doctor. The surgeon aims to restore the nose to its original position, so it is reconstructive plastic surgery.

In cases where the nose has frequent fractures and has a permanent deformity, such as deviation of the nasal septum, the only way to treat them is a nose job.

Patients interested in performing rhinoplasty when correcting nasal deformity after injury will need to do septorhinoplasty. The best time for rhinoplasty is usually between 3-6 months after the injury. At this time, the swelling from the injury is gone and the bones are completely fixed. People who are young can wait until their puberty and facial growth is complete.

Prevention of nasal fractures

• Prevention is always better than cure. You can reduce the risk of a broken nose by following these tips.
• Use the suitable shoes
• No use of alcohol and drugs
• Always wear a helmet when cycling and riding a motorcycle for protection
• Wear a seat belt while driving and place children in a suitable, approved seat.
• Follow safety rules when exercising and Physical activity