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

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

Connect with UMMC

© 2011 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved.
UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System,
22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. TDD: 1-800-735-2258 or 1.866.408.6885

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Related Content