Fractured Nose

A fractured or broken nose can occur following trauma to the face.

What are the symptoms of a fractured nose?

Cosmetic deformity, whereby the nose is a different shape or in a different position to prior to the injury. A fractured nose can be painful and a patient may have reduced airflow through their nose. There can be bruising present around or under the eyes.

How do you treat a fractured nose?

A fractured nose needs to be assessed and treated urgently. If a blood clot has formed in the septum (septal haematoma) it needs to be drained within 48 hours of the injury.  After 1 week, the majority of the nasal swelling has subsided and an assessment of cosmetic deformity can be made. A nasal deformity can be repositioned in the first 2 weeks after an injury (whilst the bones are still mobile) without the need for an open operation (rhinoplasty).

If there has been a delay in treatment (more than 3 weeks after the injury) or a patient has delayed functional or cosmetic concerns, then a rhinoplasty procedure can be performed.

What does surgery/treatment involve?

Nasal bone repositioning (closed reduction of nasal fracture), is a quick procedure done under general anaesthetic. In this procedure the nasal bones are remobilised back into their original/correct position without any skin incisions. This procedure is possible only within 2 weeks of the fracture.

A rhinoplasty procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic and can take several hours. The nose is opened and the underlying bone and cartilage is reconstructed, restoring the nose’s function and cosmesis. 

How long is the recovery after surgery?

A nasal splint will remain over the bridge of the nose for 7 days. After it’s removed and depending on the type of procedure that they’ve had, the patient may need to be followed up for a number of months.