A broken nose is a common injury caused by falls, sports, or fights. It can involve both bone and cartilage and may require medical intervention. Complications include a deviated septum, CSF leaking, and poor healing. Immediate treatment includes ice and pain management. Severe cases may require surgery.
A nose fracture is a break in the nose. Broken noses are extremely common facial injuries, thanks to the fact that the nose protrudes from the face and tends to get in the way of things like flying fists as a result. People can suffer broken noses from falls, sporting events, and fights, and it’s usually readily apparent when someone’s nose is broken. Depending on the severity of the fracture, a broken nose may heal on its own or may require medical intervention.
Both bone and cartilage are present in the nose and both can be involved in a nasal fracture. Typically, when someone’s nose is broken, it’s bloody and can appear out of position or distorted. The swelling usually comes on very quickly and the patient may experience considerable pain. Some patients experience a grinding or grainy sensation in the nose. In some cases, a pause can lead to immediate breathing difficulties or other complications.
There are several concerns with a broken nose. One is a deviated septum or a blood clot in the septum, which can cause complications. Also, sometimes people experience CSF leaking from the nose after a nasal fracture; If someone with a broken nose starts leaking clear fluid from their nose, this can be a sign of a complication. Also, a broken nose can heal poorly, causing discomfort because it could be cosmetically unattractive or lead to respiratory problems in the future due to the shape distortion.
Immediate treatment for a broken nose is ice to reduce swelling, along with pain management medications such as aspirin. The patient’s head should be held elevated and the patient should be monitored for signs of concussion and other complications that can occur following head trauma.
If someone with a broken nose begins to have difficulty breathing or demonstrates an altered level of consciousness or other neurological signs such as confusion, slurred speech, or erratic behavior, it’s time to go to the emergency room. It may also be advisable to make an appointment with an ear, nose and throat specialist within a few days of your break so that your nose can be examined. If the rupture is severe, it may require surgery or other measures. A reconstructive plastic surgeon may also be involved in deciding whether or not surgery will be needed to correct the appearance of the nose after a fracture.
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