SMOLENSK STATE

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PROPAEDEUTICS OF
INTERNAL MEDICINE
First Aid

Broken Nose & First

Aid For Broken Nose

• Arpit Gajankush & Prince Mishra

• Group No. 115
Introduction
• A broken nose is a crack or fracture of the bony portion
• of the nose caused by trauma or a blow to the nose or
• face from such events as a sports injury, personal fights
• or domestic violence, and motor-vehicle accidents. Signs
• of a broken nose include tenderness when touching the
• nose, swelling of the nose or face, bruising of the nose
• or black eyes, a nose that appears deformed or crooked,
• nosebleed, a crunching or crackling sound or sensation
• when touching the nose similar to the sound that you
• make when you rub hair between two fingers, and pain
• and difficulty exhaling through the nostrils.
Treatment is typically with pain medication and cold
compresses. Reduction, if needed, can typically occur after the
swelling has come down. Depending on the type of fracture
reduction may be closed or open. Outcomes are generally good.
Nasal fractures are common, comprising about 40% of facial
fractures. Males in their 20s are most commonly affected.
Diagnosis
• Nasal fractures are usually identified visually and through physical
examination. Medical imaging is generally not recommended. A
priority is to distinguish simple fractures limited to the nasal bones
(Type 1) from fractures that also involve other facial bones and/or
the nasal septum (Types 2 and 3). In simple Type 1 fractures X-Rays
supply surprisingly little information beyond clinical examination.
However, diagnosis may be confirmed with X-rays or CT scans, and
these are required if other facial injuries are suspected.
• A fracture that runs horizontally across the septum is sometimes
called a "Jarjavay fracture", and a vertical one, a "Chevallet
fracture".
• Although treatment of an uncomplicated fracture of nasal bones is
not urgent—a referral for specific treatment in five to seven days
usually suffices—an associated injury, nasal septal hematoma,
occurs in about 5% of cases and does require urgent treatment and
should be looked for during the assessment of nasal injuries.
First Aid
• Follow the steps below if you suspect a broken nose:
• 1. Apply an ice pack to the nose immediately for about
• fifteen minutes at a time and repeat multiple times
• throughout the day and for one to two days following
• the injury, to reduce pain and swelling. Make sure
• to take breaks between cold-pack applications, and
• never apply the ice directly to the skin.
• 2. OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• can be taken as required and as directed to reduce pain. Avoid
aspirin because it may increase the chance of bleeding and
swelling.
• 3. OTC nasal decongestants may help to aid in breathing
• through the nostrils.
• 4. Sleep with the head of your bed elevated to help with
• swelling of the nose.
• Call the doctor if:
• The pain or swelling doesn’t go away in three days
• Your nose looks crooked
• You are not able to breathe through the nose after the
• swelling has gone down
• You have a fever
• You begin to have frequent nosebleeds
• You feel that you have any injury that requires medical
• attention
• Go to an emergency department immediately if:
• You have bleeding that you can’t easily get under
• control
• You have clear fluid draining from the nose
• You have any other injuries to the face or the body
• You were knocked out
• You experience severe headaches that aren’t relieved
• by OTC medication
• You are vomiting repeatedly
• You have a decrease or change in vision
• You have any neck pain
• You have numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms
• You have severe pain in your nose
References
The Everything First Aid Book.pdf
www.wedmd.com
www.cnabuzz.com