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Broken Nose Surgery: How to Fix a Broken Nose

A broken nose occurs when the bone or cartilage in the nose is damaged. This can result from various causes, including accidents, sports injuries, or altercations. The severity of a broken nose can range from a minor fracture to a more complex break involving multiple fractures.

Tagged: Facial Treatments

Date: 22nd February 2024

Medically Reviewed by:  Mr. Bryan Mayou (GMC: 1414396)

Last reviewed: 22nd February 2024

How Do You Know if You Break Your Nose?

Here's a comprehensive breakdown of common nose break symptoms and signs to help you assess if you have a broken or fractured nose.

  • Pain and Tenderness: Gently touch the nose; if you experience pain or tenderness, it may indicate a fracture. In severe instances, the pain may be constant without touching the nasal area indicating a broken nose.   
  • Swelling: Look in the mirror or ask someone else to check for any noticeable swelling.  
  • Bruising: Inspect the area for any unusual colouration or bruising under the eyes or around the nose.   
  • Difficulty Breathing: Pay attention to changes in your breathing patterns and any obstruction in the nasal passages. Nasal congestion and difficulty breathing could be signs of a broken nose.  
  • Deformity: Compare the current appearance of your nose to its usual state. Any significant alteration indicates potential damage.  
  • Crunching Sound: If you recall hearing a distinct crunching sound when the injury occurred, it suggests possible nasal damage. 
  • Nose Bleed: The nosebleed starts immediately after the injury, and there is a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the trauma and the bleeding.

While a nosebleed can be a potential sign of a broken nose, it's crucial to understand that not all nosebleeds automatically indicate a fracture. The term "epistaxis" covers a broad range of nosebleeds, and the majority are unrelated to fractures. Nosebleeds can stem from various factors, including dry air, nasal trauma, irritants, congestion, or underlying medical conditions. Therefore, it's essential to recognise that not every case of a nosebleed automatically points to a broken nose.

Understanding the diverse causes allows for a more accurate assessment of your symptoms and ensures appropriate medical attention and broken nose treatment based on the specific contributing factors.  

Is There a Difference Between a Broken and Fractured Nose?

The terms "broken" and "fractured" are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle distinction. If you break your nose, it means there’s a complete disruption of the bone or cartilage, while a fractured nose involves a crack or break without a complete separation.

How to fix a fractured nose and a broken nose often involves the same treatments with the primary goal being realignment and stabilisation.

Nose broken signs:

  • Visible Deformity:  An altered shape or alignment of the nose.
  • Painful Touch: Tenderness and pain when touching the nasal area.
  • Restricted Movement: Difficulty moving or adjusting the nose due to pain.

How to tell if your nose is fractured:  

  • Crackling Sensation: A crackling or crunching sensation during the injury.
  • Partial Misalignment: Partial displacement of the nasal structure.
  • Localised Swelling: Swelling is concentrated in specific areas of the nose. 

Why is it so Important to Get a Fast Medical Diagnosis?

Here are the reasons why you should seek a fast medical diagnosis of a broken nose: 

Ensuring a quick medical diagnosis is crucial for you to avoid potential complications associated with a broken nose. These complications may include difficulties in breathing, the risk of infections, or the development of chronic nasal issues. Swift identification of the problem allows for your timely intervention, reducing the chances of complications and ensuring optimal respiratory function. 

Early diagnosis plays a crucial role in initiating the appropriate treatment for broken nose. This not only promotes better healing but also minimises the long-term effects of the injury. Timely intervention contributes to a more effective healing process, lowering the risk of complications and optimising your overall recovery.

A comprehensive diagnosis is vital to identify any accompanying injuries that may be present alongside your broken nose. This approach ensures a holistic treatment plan that considers multiple aspects of the injury, promoting a more thorough and effective recovery process.

Swift diagnosis enables healthcare professionals to implement effective pain management strategies from the outset. Managing your pain early on enhances your overall comfort during the recovery process.

Early detection of a broken nose allows for interventions aimed at maintaining or restoring normal nasal function. This includes addressing issues related to airflow and your sense of smell. Timely medical attention helps preserve the functionality of your nasal passages, minimising the impact on your breathing and sense of smell. 

Prompt diagnosis and treatment of your broken nose can prevent or minimise visible changes to the nasal structure, preserving your facial aesthetics. Addressing the injury promptly reduces the risk of permanent cosmetic deformities.


What Are the Best Treatments to Fix a Broken Nose at Home?

While seeking professional medical advice for a broken nose treatment is paramount, there are initial measures you can take at home to alleviate symptoms:

  • Ice Pack: Apply a cold compress or ice pack to reduce swelling and numb the area. Use for 15-20 minutes at a time and make sure to wrap the back in a towel or paper towel.
  • Pain Relief: Over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol can help manage pain and discomfort.
  • Head Elevation: Keep your head elevated while resting to minimise swelling.
  • Nasal Decongestants: Use nasal decongestants cautiously to alleviate breathing difficulties.
  • Avoiding Strenuous Activities: Avoid doing things that could make the injury worse, like intense exercise or blowing your nose hard.

Home treatment is only suitable for minor broken nose cases. If you experience severe pain, persistent bleeding, breathing difficulties, or suspect a more complex fracture, seeking professional medical attention promptly is essential. A healthcare provider can assess the severity of the injury and provide appropriate care to avoid potential complications and ensure proper healing.  

What is Broken Nose Surgery and When is it Necessary?

Broken nose surgery, medically termed rhinoplasty, is a corrective procedure that aims to realign the bones and cartilage in the nose to restore its structure and function. This surgery is essential for addressing both functional and aesthetic issues that arise from a broken or fractured nose. The goal of the procedure is to recover a broken nose’s shape, functionality, and appearance.

A broken nose treatment becomes necessary in the following cases:

  • Severe Displacement: Surgery is necessary when the nose is visibly deformed due to a fracture. In this case, manual alignment is insufficient for realigning the bones and cartilage.
  • Breathing Difficulties: If the fracture causes an obstruction within the nasal passages thereby resulting in breathing issues, surgical intervention can restore clear airways.
  • Persistent Pain: Surgery is also a viable option in cases where pain does not subside with typical broken nose treatments like nasal sprays and ice packs.
  • Unresolved Symptoms: For individuals experiencing ongoing symptoms such as nosebleeds, recurrent infections or headaches, surgery might be recommended to address underlying issues.

In cases where you have difficulty breathing, or have severe breaks in your nose, surgery should not be delayed. Delaying surgical treatment for a broken fractured nose can result in more complicated surgery, a longer recovery time, and a greater risk of complications.

Surgery for a broken nose involves precise techniques to correct the bone and cartilage structure, typically under general anaesthesia. The approach may vary from closed procedures, with all incisions made inside the nostrils, to open surgery for more complex cases.

Patients may experience some discomfort post-surgery but it can be managed with appropriate medication and cold compresses. Depending on the extent of the surgery, patients can return to their daily routine within a week or two. 


What Are the Benefits of Broken Nose Surgery?

Broken nose surgery offers the following medical and cosmetic benefits:

  1. Improvement in the appearance of the nose thus making it appear more proportionate which results in better facial symmetry.
  2. Enhances breathing function in cases of a deviated septum by correcting the underlying issue.
  3. Greatly reduces the risk of breathing difficulties, recurring sinus infections and sleeping troubles caused by a broken nose.
  4. Protects the nose from collapsing especially in cases where the nose has experienced severe breaks or bruising.
  5. Helps you achieve your cosmetic goals, including adjusting the size of the nose, straightening the nasal bridge, reshaping the nostrils and refining the nasal tip. 

Frequently Asked Questions

You know you have nose cartilage damage if you experience persistent pain, difficulty breathing through the nose, an unusual shape or asymmetry of the nose after an injury and a cracking sound when touching the nose. For further confirmation of cartilage damage, a medical evaluation is best. 

Yes, a broken nose is painful. It is typically accompanied by swelling, bruising and even bleeding in some cases. The severity of the pain depends on the extent of the fracture. 

The different types of broken nose operations include:

  • Closed reduction (bones realigned without incisions) 
  • Open reduction (involves incisions to access and correct the bone)  
  • Rhinoplasty for men and women involves comprehensive reshaping and restructuring of a severely broken nose 
  • A Septorhinoplasty is typically performed to address both the aesthetics of the nose and its internal structure. 

It can take six to eight weeks to recover from broken nose surgery. The initial swelling typically subsides over a week while the stitches dissolve within the first week. It can take up to 12 months for your nose to settle into its final shape. 

The risks of broken nose surgery include infection, bleeding, breathing problems and revision surgery in some cases. There's also a risk of altered sensation in the nose or surrounding areas as a result of nerve damage. 


Words From Our Founder

Mr. Bryan Mayou

Repositioning a broken nose is crucial for aesthetics and functionality. Early intervention is key, as it can prevent the need for more invasive procedures later on, which may have a longer recovery time. By promptly realigning the nose, we lessen the risk of long-term complications. By realigning a broken nose as quickly as possible, the appearance and function is preserved as effectively as possible.
Mr. Bryan Mayou

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