children's
ENT
Sinusand
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Rhinoplasty / Septoplastyand
Nasal Reconstruction
Ear and
Hearing
throat
Problems
Broken nose or nasal fracture may occur due to physical fights, injury during sports, falls, or accidents.
Some of the common symptoms of broken nose include pain, swelling and bruising around the nose or eyes, bleeding, crooked or misshapen nose, crackling sound or feeling on touching the nose, blocked nasal passages, and difficulty in breathing.
Possible complications of a broken nose include deviated nasal septum, nasal septal hematoma (collection of blood), cartilage fracture, cervical spine or neck injuries, cerebral spinal fluid draining from the nose (CSF rhinorrhoea), loss of sense of smell, infection, and difficulty in breathing.
Your doctor will diagnose the broken nose or nasal fracture through a physical examination and medical history. Your doctor will ask you the history of injury. An endoscope, light optic tube which is passed through your nostrils is used to give a clearer picture of the nose. An X-ray of the nose and a CT scan may be necessary if your doctor is unable to identify the broken bone through any of the tests.
In case of minor fracture your doctor recommends to follow self-care measures such as applying ice on the affected area, keeping the head elevated, and taking medicines such as paracetemol to reduce pain.
If the bone or cartilage is displaced, closed reduction is done. Your doctor will insert splints which will help to realign the bones and cartilage and place them back in their original position. This is usually done within 7 to 14 days of breaking the nose.
Surgery: If there are multiple breaks or which is left untreated then surgery will be done to realign and reshape the bone, and the procedure is known as rhinoplasty.
If the break has damaged the nasal septum causing difficulty in breathing, then septorhinoplasty is done to reconstruct the nose.
Follow these guidelines to help prevent nose fracture:
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