Nasal Fractures

Nasal fractures represent the third most commonly broken bone in the body, and the nose is the most commonly broken facial bone. Despite the frequency of their occurrence, nasal fractures are often under-treated. As a consequence, significant long-term functional and cosmetic problems may result.

Severe breaks, multiple breaks or breaks that have gone untreated for more than 14 days may not be candidates for manual realignment. In these cases, surgery to realign the bones and reshape your nose may be necessary.

If the break has damaged your nasal septum, causing obstruction or difficulty breathing, reconstructive surgery may be recommended. Surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis.

As a community based practice, we typically see nasal fractures that occur in high school and college athletes, as well as, cheerleaders. Typically, if the injury is seen within the first few days, the nasal fracture can be set quite easily with simple manipulation. This is known as a closed reduction and it can be performed with or without sedation.


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