Broken nose

Your healthcare professional may press gently on your nose and the areas around it to check for pain, swelling and broken bones. Your healthcare professional also may look inside your nose to see if there's a blockage or other signs of injury.

You may be given numbing medicine to make the exam more comfortable.

X-rays and other imaging typically are not needed to diagnose a broken nose. But if the injury is serious, or if a full exam isn't possible, your healthcare professional may order a CT scan to check for broken bones or other injuries.

If the fracture is minor and your nose isn't crooked or misshapen, you may not need medical treatment. In many cases, using ice to lessen swelling and taking pain medicine you can buy without a prescription is enough to help you heal.

Manual realignment

If the break has shifted the bones or cartilage in your nose, your healthcare professional may need to realign them. This procedure is called reduction. It needs to be done within 14 days of the injury, and preferably sooner for the best results.

To keep you comfortable during the procedure, you get numbing medicine. Typically, a healthcare professional can move the bones gently back into place by hand. Sometimes special tools may be needed to help realign the broken bones and cartilage.

After the procedure, your nose may need to be splinted to hold it in place while it heals. This can include:

• Packing inside the nose.
• A dressing or splint on the outside of the nose.
• An internal splint, which is left in place temporarily.

Typically, the packing used for splinting stays in for about one week. The external dressing may stay on for up to two weeks.

You also may be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection, since the nose naturally has bacteria.

Surgery

Serious breaks, multiple breaks or breaks that have gone untreated for more than 14 days may need surgery. Surgery can realign the bones and, if needed, reshape the nose.

The nasal septum is the middle part of your nose that divides your nostrils. If the injury damaged that area, you may feel like your nose is blocked or constantly stuffy. Surgery may be needed to reconstruct your nose to improve your breathing and correct the damage.

If you think you may have broken your nose, take these steps right away to lessen pain and swelling:

• Act quickly. Breathe through your mouth and lean forward to help stop blood from draining into your throat.
• Apply ice. Use an ice pack or cold compress as soon as possible after the injury. Apply ice at least four times a day for the first 24 to 48 hours to lessen swelling. Use the ice pack or cold compress for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Always put a thin cloth between ice and your skin to prevent frostbite. And don't press too hard. That can cause pain or damage.
• Take pain medicine. Take pain relievers you can buy without a prescription, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), to relieve pain.
• Keep your head up. Elevate your head — especially when sleeping — to lessen swelling and throbbing.
• Limit your activities. For the first two weeks after the injury, don't play any sports. Don't play contact sports for at least six weeks after your injury.

If your injury is serious, you won't have time to prepare for your appointment because you'll need to seek medical attention right away.

If the injury to your nose is less serious and you have only swelling and moderate pain, you may choose to wait before seeking care. This allows time for the swelling to lessen, making it easier to evaluate the injury.

If your symptoms don't start to improve, it's best to see a healthcare professional within 3 to 5 days of the injury. Get medical help right away if:

• The pain or swelling isn't getting better.
• Your nose looks misshapen or crooked after the swelling goes down.
• You can't breathe well through your nose, even after the swelling lessens.
• You have frequent nosebleeds.
• You develop a fever.

When you make an appointment, you typically start by seeing your primary healthcare professional. Depending on your injury, you may be referred to a specialist in conditions of the ear, nose and throat.

What you can do

• Write down any symptoms you're having and what you were doing at the time of the injury.
• Make a list of all medicines, vitamins and supplements you're taking.
• Bring a photo of yourself before the injury for comparison, if possible.
• Write down questions to ask.

Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your healthcare professional. For a broken nose, here are some basic questions to ask:

• Do I need any tests, such as X-rays?
• How long will the swelling and bruising last?
• Will my nose look the same after it heals?
• Do I need surgery?
• Do I need to restrict my activity?
• What type of pain medicine can I take?
• Are there any brochures or other printed materials that I can take home? What websites do you recommend for more information?

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare professional may ask:

• How and when did your injury occur?
• Have your symptoms improved at all since the time of the injury?
• Is there clear nasal drainage?
• Does your nose look the same or different to you?
• Can you easily breathe through your nose?
• Do you take part in contact sports? If so, do you plan to return to participating in contact sports?