Nasal Fracture Repair
A broken nose, or nasal fracture, can significantly alter your appearance and breathing. Typically when a person breaks their nose they may get significant swelling, bruising and bleeding around and from their nose.
Nasal fracture repair is a surgical procedure used to fix a broken nose. It may be performed as an outpatient procedure under anesthesia, depending on the extent of the fracture and the patient's overall health.
What happens if I break my nose?
Your doctor will examine you and make sure no other medical problems arise that need to be immediately addressed. A CT scan or imaging may be done to better characterize the extent of the fracture. Any bleeding will be controlled at this time.
How can it be fixed?
Closed Reduction
If the fracture occurred within 2 weeks and is not severely displaced a closed reduction can be performed. Closed reduction of a nasal fracture is a medical procedure used to realign the bones of the nose that have been displaced or broken due to trauma. It is called a "closed" reduction because it does not involve any surgical incisions or cutting of the skin. After 2 weeks the bones begin to heal in place, and manipulating them again with a closed reduction is not possible.
Closed reductions are a simple way of realigning the bone and can be performed with a septoplasty if there is a septal fracture. If there is significant displacement to the bones they may not fully set in place with a closed reduction alone even if it does improve breathing.
Septorhinoplasty
If the fracture is older than 2 weeks or there is a severe displacement, your surgeon may recommend medical management for 2-3 months before performing a surgical repair. At this time an open septorhinoplasty is required to straighten the nose and reset the underlying architecture back to its original placement. Any cosmetic concerns can be addressed at this time.
Recovery
The nose takes 6-8 weeks to completely set the bones in place. The patient will have a cast and/or septal splints in place for 1 week however must refrain from any activities where getting hit in the nose is possible for 2 months. This includes wearing glasses. After that time the bones are healed and the patient can go back to their normal activity
Benefits of Nasal Fracture Repair
Improved Breathing: A nasal fracture can result in breathing difficulties due to blockage or deviation of the nasal passages. Repairing the fracture can restore normal airflow and improve breathing.
Aesthetics: A broken nose can result in a visible deformity, which can affect the appearance of the face. Repairing the fracture can help to restore the shape and symmetry of the nose.
Reduced Pain: A broken nose can be painful, and repairing the fracture can help to alleviate pain and discomfort.
Prevention of Further Complications: If left untreated, a nasal fracture can result in further complications such as chronic sinusitis, chronic nosebleeds, and even breathing difficulties that may require surgery later on.
Quicker Recovery: Repairing a nasal fracture can help to speed up the healing process and reduce the amount of time needed for recovery.