Nose fracture - Treatment

Alternative Names

Fracture of the nose; Broken nose

First Aid:

Reassure the patient and try to keep the patient calm.
Have the patient breathe through the mouth and lean forward in a sitting position in order to keep blood from going down the back of the throat.
Apply cold compresses to the nose to reduce swelling. If possible, the patient should hold the compress so that there isn't too much pressure on the nose.
To help relieve pain, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is recommended.

Do Not:

Do NOT try to straighten a broken nose.
Do NOT move the person if there is reason to suspect a head or neck injury.

Call immediately for emergency medical assistance if:

Get medical help right away if:

Bleeding will not stop
Clear fluid keeps draining from the nose
You suspect a blood clot in the septum
You suspect a neck or head injury
The nose looks deformed
The person is having difficulty breathing

$Nasal fracture$

Nasal fracture

Reviewed last on: 9/9/2009
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Drezner JA, Harmon KG, O’Kane JW. Sports medicine. In: Rakel RE, ed. Textbook of Family Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 41.

Riviello RJ. Otolaryngologic procedures. In: Roberts JR, Hedges JR, eds. Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2004:chap 65.

Belleza WG, Kalman S. Otolaryngologic emergencies in the outpatient setting. Medical Clinics of North America. March 2006;90(2):329-353.

Broken bone

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