Broken nose

A broken nose (also called a fractured nose) is a common injury after a knock to your face.

Broken noses are usually swollen, red, and sore. You may also have bruising, a bleeding nose, or feel a crunching when you move your nose. Your nose might look bent or you might find it hard to breathe through your nose.

Important

A knock to your head or face can also cause more serious injuries. You should go to the hospital Emergency Department as soon as possible if:

  • clear fluid is trickling from your nose (call 111 for an ambulance as you may have a serious head injury)
  • you have a severe headache, neck pain or a stiff neck – especially if you have numb or tingling arms, blurred or double vision, or other symptoms of a severe head injury, such as loss of consciousness or repeated vomiting.


Image credit: Healthinfo Canterbury, NZ

You should see a doctor quickly if you have:

  • a nosebleed that won't stop
  • a cut or graze over your nose
  • a blood clot or swelling inside your nose between your nostrils. This may be a septal haematoma, which needs to be drained straight away.

Diagnosing a broken nose

Usually a doctor can tell your nose is broken from the way your nose looks.

You probably won't need an X-ray of your broken nose unless your doctor thinks another bone in your face is broken.

Treating a broken nose

Most broken noses can be managed at home. To reduce swelling, hold an icepack against your nose for 15 minutes, once an hour, for the first few days. Make sure there is a cloth between the ice and your skin, so you don't damage your skin.

The swelling will usually go down after a week, and the bruising will go in about two weeks.

You should see your GP if:

  • the pain gets worse, or doesn't get better with simple painkillers like paracetamol
  • the swelling has gone down, but you still find it hard to breathe through your nose
  • your nose looks crooked
  • the swelling hasn't gone down after a few days
  • you have nosebleeds that keep coming and going
  • you have a high temperature.

If your nose is severely broken, you may need to get it straightened (realigned) by an otolaryngologist – previously called an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. It's best to do this within two weeks of the injury. You might need to wait till there is less swelling before your doctor can decide if your nose needs to be straightened.

Usually, you will be given a local anaesthetic that can numb your nose for two to four hours before straightening. If you are unhappy with either how you are breathing or the shape of your nose, ACC might cover the cost of private surgery. Talk to your doctor about this.

  Credits

Content used with permission from HealthInfo Canterbury as part of a National Content Hub Collaborative. 
Credits: HealthInfo, Canterbury DHB.