What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Fracture of the Nose
• Nasal Fracture
• Nose Fracture

What is Broken Nose? (Definition/Background Information)

• A Broken Nose, also known as a Nasal Fracture, occurs when a bone within the nose breaks or cracks. This injury frequently occurs to the bone over the bridge of the nose and the nasal cartilage. It is the most common facial fracture
• Common causes associated with a Broken Nose include, rough or high-impact sports, physical fights, falls, and automobile accidents that result in facial trauma
• Such injuries usually cause pain, swelling, bruising around the nose and beneath the eyes. Some individuals may also experience breathing difficulties
• A Broken Nose treatment would generally involve realigning the nose back to its normal position. Surgical procedures may be required in severe cases, if several bones within the nose are fractured, or if the condition is left untreated for more than 2 weeks

Who gets Broken Nose? (Age and Sex Distribution)

• A Broken Nose injury may occur in individuals of all ages, race, ethnic groups, or gender
• A high percentage of individuals who develop such injuries are young athletes, who participate in sports

What are the Risk Factors for Broken Nose? (Predisposing Factors)

Risk factors associated with a Broken Nose include:

• Athletes who participate in rough or high-impact sports, such as hockey, football, boxing, baseball, martial arts
• Physical fighting, fisticuffs, rough play
• Riding a bicycle/motorcycle without paying attention to safety measures; automobile accidents
• Using the bench press when lifting weights; especially inexperienced individuals, or those who do not use a spotter
• Physical falls; walking into glass doors, walls
• Advanced age or certain medical conditions, such as a seizure disorder, alcoholism

It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases ones chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.

Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.

What are the Causes of Broken Nose? (Etiology)

It takes much less force to break the nose cartilage, than other bones. Any external trauma to the nose brought about by accidents, direct hits, or while participating in contact sports, may cause a Nose Fracture/Broken Nose. These include:

• Injury to the nose while participating in athletic activities, rough/high-impact sports, is among the most common cause
• Physical quarrel, fights with other individuals, domestic violence
• Any traumatic event, such as automobile, motorcycle, or bicycle accidents that cause injuries to the nose/face
• Direct falls that hurt or injure the nose

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Broken Nose?

Signs and symptoms of a Broken Nose include:

• Pain, tenderness, swelling (sometimes excessive swelling) of the nose and surrounding region
• Bleeding
• Noticeable bruising around the nose or eyes, deformity
• Breathing difficulties
• Excessive mucous secretion from within the nasal cavity (rhinorrhea); nasal congestion
• Broken cartilage of the nose

How is Broken Nose Diagnosed?

A diagnosis of Nasal Fracture/Broken Nose would involve the following:

• A physician will usually perform a thorough physical examination by applying soft pressure to the nose and the surrounding region
• In addition to this, the physician may also check if the nasal passage is obstructed. A nasal spray or local anesthetic may be administered during the exam
• A computerized tomography (CT) scan or other imaging studies (such as an x-ray), may be required in severe cases or if a physician is unable to perform a thorough physical examination
• It is important to distinguish if the fracture is confined to the nasal structure, or involves other bones of the face too

Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

What are the possible Complications of Broken Nose?

Some possible complications of a Broken Nose could be:

• Displacement of the thin wall separating the two nostrils (nasal septum), within the nose
• Abnormal bruising or bleeding within the septum, leading to infection and abscess formation (nasal septal hematoma)
• Injury to the neck due to a traumatic injury, such as associated with an automobile accident

How is Broken Nose Treated?

Depending on the kind of Broken Nose injury, non-surgical and/or surgical treatment may be required.

Nonsurgical treatment:

• A minor fracture to the nose may always require medical treatment. Physicians usually advise applying ice to the nose and taking over-the-counter medication to help relieve pain
• If any bones and cartilage are displaced within the nose, the closed reduction technique may be used. Closed reduction is a medical procedure that involves physically realigning the bones non-surgically. It should be performed within the first 14 days after the injury occurred

Surgical treatment:

• Rhinoplasty: Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure to correct or restructure the nose. It is usually performed if there are multiple breaks within the nose, or if the injury has been left untreated for more than 14 days

How can Broken Nose be Prevented?

To prevent a Broken Nose, one should be careful and consciously aware while performing any physical activities, such as sports, or even some normal daily activities that could lead to situations involving accidents.

Children must be provided a safe environment to work, study, or play; any probable danger involved should be anticipated and safety measures adopted.

• Wear a seatbelt while driving an automobile; children should be restrained in age-appropriate safety seats
• Individuals who participate in any high-risk sports, such as football or hockey, should wear appropriate safety equipment to help prevent the possibility of a Broken Nose
• Wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle or bicycle

What is the Prognosis of Broken Nose? (Outcomes/Resolutions)

• The majority of Broken Nose injuries heal without any serious complications, even if surgical treatment is required to realign or reconstruct the nose
• A small percentage of individuals may require more than one reconstructive surgical procedure, usually for cosmetic reasons or to improve air flow in the nasal cavity

Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Broken Nose:

The following DoveMed website link is a useful resource for additional information:

https://www.dovemed.com/health-topics/ent-center/