Broken Nose and Nasal Fracture Repair

A broken nose, or nasal fracture, is more common than you might realize, making up more than 40 percent of all bone injuries of the face. A broken nose can cause severe damage to the cartilage and bone and anything from a bad fall to a sports accident can lead to a broken nose. Athletes are at a particularly high risk for developing broken noses due to playing in high impact sports such as baseball, soccer and wrestling. If you suspect that you may have broken your nose our otolaryngologist can provide the treatment and relief you need.

Symptoms of a Broken Nose

Unfortunately, mild fractures often go untreated, which can lead to further issues in the future. Therefore, it’s important to recognize the symptoms of a broken nose so that you can treat the problem right away. These symptoms include,

• Nosebleed
• A crooked nose
• Bruising, swelling and tenderness
• Nasal blockage
• Bruising under the eyes

Depending on the severity of the break, the swelling may appear immediately or it may appear one or two hours after the injury. A simple physical examination of the nose using a nasal speculum is often all that our ENT doctor will need to diagnose a broken nose. Imaging tests are usually not required.

Understanding a Nasal Fracture Repair

If the injury has left your nose deformed or has restricted air flow then our ear, nose and throat specialist will be able to better treat the problem than a regular doctor can. If you seek immediate medical attention an otolaryngologist can often realign the nose right away. This can be done either surgically or non-surgically. If a blood clot is detected within the nasal septum then a small incision will be made in the septum to allow the clot to drain. If the clot is not properly drained this can lead to a permanent deformity.

If swelling is severe we may need to wait a few days for the swelling to subside to decide how to best treat the break. A closed reduction is a nonsurgical procedure that is performed to realign the nose immediately after injury; however, if you don’t seek medical attention right away or if we have to wait before providing treatment then we may need to perform a rhinoplasty, a surgical procedure that will correct and reshape the nose. If the nasal septum requires repair we will also perform a septorhinoplasty.

If you have sustained a facial injury and are exhibiting symptoms of a broken nose it’s important that you seek care immediately. Call Hillcrest Ear, Nose & Throat today at (619) 294-2350.

Have You Broken Your Nose And Need Assistance?
Call Hillcrest ENT, in San Diego, Hillcrest CA, at (619) 294-2350 For An Appointment!