Injury Centre | Head | Nose

Nose Injury

A nose fracture occurs when there is a break in the bone over the ridge of the nose. It usually results from a direct impact is sports such as football or rugby. Nose fractures are the most common facial injuries. Symptoms of a broken nose include pain, blood coming from the nose, bruising around the eyes, swelling, and difficulty breathing. Some nose fractures can cause problems that require immediate medical attention. However, for minor nose injuries, the doctor may prefer to see the patient after the swelling subsides to evaluate the injured area.

Minor bumps are unlikely to break the nasal bone, but violent injuries such as a punch, a direct hit from a tackle or a clash of heads when going up for a header. Immediately after the injury it is possible to tell whether the bone is broken or not by looking to see if the shape of the nose is distorted. Before long, however, swelling appears and obscures any possible damage.

Until this swelling has reduced it can be difficult to tell whether or not the nose is broken. However, when a heavy blow to the nose is immediately followed by excessive bleeding, it’s fairly likely that it has been broken. It usually takes between five and seven days for any swelling to disappear and at this time it's a good idea for a doctor to perform an examination.

In the meantime apply ice wrapped in a cloth as this will help reduce the swelling. If the nose is bleeding make sure the person is leaning forward so the blood doesn’t trickle back down the throat, and apply gentle pressure around the nose until the bleeding stops. Simple pain killers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen should be enough to relieve the pain.

It's not generally necessary to have x-rays taken of a possible broken nose as they don't help the doctor decide which treatment is necessary. If the bone is broken and has caused a deformity it may be corrected under anaesthetic. If it's not deformed the bone will heal without any need for treatment.

If one or both of the nasal passages feel or appear blocked or keep bleeding then you should get the opinion of an ear, nose and throat specialist at your local hospital.

 

 

Disclaimer

All content within sports injury insurance is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Sports injury insurance is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the injury centre. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.