Medical treatment may not be necessary when only minor fractures with no misalignment are present. However, assessment by a doctor is always needed so they can determine if and what treatment is appropriate.
Moderate to severe injuries may require surgery. Surgery should happen within 14 days of injury, and pain and discomfort from the surgery should start to decrease within 72 hours of the procedure.
Different medical treatments will vary in costs, affected by factors including the extent of treatment and your insurance. If caused by an injury, rhinoplasty is covered under most insurance policies, as are diagnostic expenses such as X-rays and examinations with a doctor. Your broken nose will most likely heal without any problems. A deviated septum may cause health complications such as difficulty breathing. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, treatments, and more.
Nasal trauma is an injury to your nose or the areas that surround and support it. Learn what can cause it and how to treat it. Learn about the symptoms of septal hematoma, including possible ways to treat it from home.
People get rhinoplasty for cosmetic reasons, or to correct breathing problems or birth defects. Read more about this procedure. Learn about what causes headaches and nosebleeds and how to treat them. Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is your body's response to specific allergens. It causes uncomfortable symptoms like sneezing and itchy eyes. This often happens in small…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Broken Nose. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Overview A broken nose, also called a nasal fracture or nose fracture, is a break or crack in the bone or cartilage of your nose.
Further investigations might sometimes be necessary. A doctor may order a CT scan or an X-ray to check for other injuries or complications. People can often treat a broken nose at home if the injury is not serious or causing other problems.
However, a person should not attempt to realign their nose themselves if it is misshapen or crooked. People with large cuts or gashes on their face should see a healthcare professional, as stitches or a medical dressing may be necessary to close and protect the wound while it heals.
For people with more severe pain and swelling, a doctor can prescribe stronger pain relievers if OTC medications are not effective. People with severe injuries or damage to the nose may require manual realignment or surgery. We discuss these medical treatments below:. A person with a misshapen or crooked nose may require a doctor to realign the bones manually.
This procedure should restore the appearance of the nose and resolve any difficulties in breathing through it. If it has been more than 2 weeks since the injury occurred, manual realignment is usually no longer an option, and a doctor may recommend surgery to repair the nose instead. For some people with a misshapen or crooked nose, a doctor may be able to realign the bones manually without surgery. However, manual realignment is usually only an option if the injury occurred less than 2 weeks ago.
It may sometimes be necessary for a person to wait for 2 to 3 months following the injury before undergoing surgery. This period of waiting allows the swelling to go down and the bones to heal before a surgeon attempts to restore the original appearance of the nose.
Nasal fractures typically begin to heal within a few days, but it may take a week or so for the pain and swelling to go away completely.
While recovering from a broken nose, it is advisable to avoid activities that could further damage it, such as playing contact sports. If there are complications, recovery may take longer. Complications arising from a broken nose can include:. Nasal deformities that arise from a broken nose are usually permanent if a person does not receive corrective treatment. According to a small study from , common causes of a broken nose include:. These include:. Broken noses are also more common in children and older adults, as these individuals often have a lower bone mass and are more at risk of falls.
This needs to be done within 14 days from when the fracture occurred, preferably sooner. Your doctor will also splint your nose using packing in your nose and a dressing on the outside.
Sometimes, an internal splint is also necessary for a short time. The packing usually needs to stay in for a week. You'll also be given a prescription for antibiotics to prevent infection with the bacteria that may normally reside in your nose. Severe breaks, multiple breaks or breaks that have gone untreated for more than 14 days may not be candidates for manual realignment. In these cases, surgery to realign the bones and reshape your nose may be necessary.
If the break has damaged your nasal septum, causing obstruction or difficulty breathing, reconstructive surgery may be recommended. Surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis. At left, a woman's nose before rhinoplasty. On the right, the same woman pictured one year after the surgery. If you think you may have broken your nose, take these steps to reduce pain and swelling before seeing your doctor:. If your injury is severe, you'll need to seek immediate medical attention and won't have time to prepare for your appointment.
But, if the injury to your nose is less severe — accompanied only by swelling and moderate pain — you may choose to wait before seeing your doctor. This allows time for the swelling to subside, so you and your doctor can better evaluate your injury.
However, it's best not to wait longer than three to five days before seeing your doctor if your signs and symptoms persist. And during this waiting period, get medical attention if:. When you make an appointment, you'll probably start by seeing your primary care doctor. However, he or she is likely to refer you to a doctor who specializes in disorders of the ear, nose and throat. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and to know what to expect from your doctor.
Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your doctor. For a broken nose, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:. Clair can be found here. Clair Medical Group Search for: Search. Signs and symptoms of a broken nose: Pain or tenderness, especially when touching your nose Swelling of your nose and surrounding areas Bleeding from your nose Bruising around your nose or eyes Crooked or misshapen nose Difficulty breathing through your nose Discharge of mucus from your nose Feeling that one or both of your nasal passages are blocked When to see a doctor Seek emergency medical attention if you experience a nose injury accompanied by: A head or neck injury, which may be marked by severe headache, neck pain, vomiting or loss of consciousness Difficulty breathing Bleeding you can't stop A noticeable change in the shape of your nose that isn't related to swelling, such as a crooked or twisted appearance Clear, watery fluid draining from your nose.
Common causes of a broken nose include: Injury from contact sports, such as football or hockey Physical altercations Motor vehicle accidents Falls A broken nose can even be caused by walking into a fixed object, such as a door or wall, or by rough, wrestling-type play. Your nose is supported by bone at the back and bridge and by cartilage in the front.
Such activities may include: Playing contact sports, such as football and hockey, especially without a helmet that has a face mask Engaging in a physical fight Riding a bicycle Lifting weights, especially if you don't use a spotter Riding in a motor vehicle, especially without a seat belt. Complications or injuries related to a broken nose may include: Deviated septum.
A nose fracture may cause a deviated septum, a condition that occurs when the thin wall dividing the two sides of your nose nasal septum is displaced, narrowing your nasal passage. Medications, such as decongestants and antihistamines, can help you manage a deviated septum, but surgery is required to correct the condition.
Collection of blood. Sometimes, pools of clotted blood form in a broken nose, creating a condition called a septal hematoma.
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