Broken Nose

How do I know if I have broken my nose?

• A broken nose is extremely tender to touch, swollen with typically bruising around the eyes (black eyes)
• Nose bleeds generally occur immediately after injury and lasts for a short time (around 10-15 minutes)
• Difficulty breathing out of the nose
• Change in the nasal shape

When to seek emergency treatment

The following symptoms warrant urgent medical attention:

• Breathing difficulty – to ensure that there is no septal haematoma (blood clot in the midline partition of the nose)
• Persistent nose bleed
• Leakage of clear watery fluid from the nose (this could indicate a serious head injury)
• Breach in the nasal skin
• Visual disturbances
• Loss of consciousness

Treatment of a broken nose

• Emergency treatment is variable addressing the above issues
• It is best to confirm with an ENT specialist if the nose is broken or not
• The best time to assess the nose is approximately 7-10 days after the trauma when the swelling starts to settle down
• If the nose is deviated, manipulation of nasal bones is indicated, and generally carried out within 2-3 weeks after injury

Surgery for a broken nose

• Manipulation of nasal bones is a simple procedure ideally done under a general anaesthetic. The bones will be manipulated to their original position where possible
• A small splint or dressing is applied to the nose, which is removed 7-10 days after procedure
• If the above procedure fails to correct the nose then a surgical procedure called Septorhinoplasty is warranted and is generally carried out after 3 months after the original injury

Please click HERE for more information on the ENTUK website