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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staff
If you have a minor fracture that hasn't caused your nose to become crooked or otherwise misshapen, professional medical treatment may be unnecessary. Your doctor may recommend simple self-care measures, such as using ice on the area and taking over-the-counter pain medications.
Fixing displacements and breaks
Your doctor may use one of two approaches:
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Closed reduction. If the break has displaced the bones and cartilage in your nose, your doctor may be able to manually realign them with a nonsurgical procedure called closed reduction. Closed reduction should be conducted no more than 14 days after the fracture.
During this procedure, your doctor uses a nasal speculum to open your nostrils. He or she then uses special instruments to help realign your broken bones and cartilage and return them to their original positions. You'll likely receive pain medications, including local injections or nasal sprays, before the procedure.
If you experience persistent bleeding related to any nasal fracture, your doctor may pack your nostrils with moistened gauze strips. These strips will likely contain an antibiotic ointment to help prevent infection.
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Surgery. Severe breaks, multiple breaks or breaks that have gone untreated for more than 14 days may not be candidates for closed reduction. In these cases, surgery to realign the bones and reshape your nose (rhinoplasty) may be necessary.
If the break has damaged your nasal septum, causing obstruction or difficulty breathing, reconstructive surgery called septorhinoplasty may be recommended.
Both surgeries are typically performed on an outpatient basis. Many people choose to stay home during the recovery process since considerable swelling and bruising are common side effects. Discomfort, swelling and bruising usually improve significantly after about one week.
- Kucik CJ. Management of acute nasal fractures. American Family Physician. 2004;70:1315.
- Pope TT, et al. Maxillofacial and neck trauma. In: Stone CK, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Emergency Medicine. 6th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3101510. Accessed May 27, 2009.
- Fractures of the nose. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec21/ch312/ch312d.html. Accessed May 30, 2009.
- Mendez DR, et al. Nasal trauma and fractures in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 22, 2009.
- Nasal fractures. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery, http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/Nasal-Fractures.cfm. Accessed May 30, 2009.
- Blum DJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 5, 2009.
