Symptoms of a broken nose

General

A nasal bone fracture (nasal bone fracture) is a very common fracture in the face area, as the nose protrudes slightly forward and is therefore particularly at risk in the event of a fall or a blow to the face.
In addition, the nasal bone is very narrow and thin and can therefore only withstand little stress.

The symptoms of a broken nasal bone can be very different, depending on how much the bone was displaced during the fracture and how bad the damage to the nasal bone from the fracture is.

Pain

In general, when a nasal bone fractures, parts of the nose are usually shifted. For example, if a person was hit on the nose from the right side, the affected part that was hit moves to the left while the rest of the nose remains "straight". This leads to a tilt of the nose, which is a typical symptom of a broken nose and can be helpful as a self-diagnosis.

Another symptom is severe pain when the nasal bone breaks. The pain is caused by the many nerve fibers running through the nasal bone that are stimulated by the fracture. The information about the break is passed on to the brain in the form of pain stimuli.

Read more on this topic: Pain in and around the nasal bone

However, if the fracture is smooth and lighter, the pain may not be as severe and can be relieved with the help of an ice pack. Some patients can even "bend" their noses back on their own. Although this usually does not lead to flawless results cosmetically, the nose can still be fully functional afterwards.

Severe pain is therefore not a compelling symptom of a broken nose, but a broken nose does not go hand in hand without pain.

Swelling and bleeding

Since it is an injury, it is always accompanied by swelling. This swelling is caused by the leakage of fluid from the demolished tissue and lasts for a few days. The swelling is a classic symptom of a broken nose and is always recognizable, only the extent of the swelling depends on the severity of the fracture. In some cases, the swelling in the area of ​​the nose is so severe that the patient does not even notice that the nose is crooked.

The swelling in the area of ​​the nasal mucous membranes and the surrounding skin of the nose also makes nasal breathing difficult. A typical symptom, usually long after a nasal bone fracture, is that patients breathe a lot through the mouth, as the swelling of the nose is so constricted that it is difficult to get enough air through the nose. In addition, especially in winter, the cold air may irritate the swollen nose or cause additional pain.

Read about this too Bruised nose

Depending on the severity of the fracture, it may even show a bruise, which after a few days green-yellowish discolored. A bruise as a symptom of a broken nasal bone usually only occurs in more severe fractures, but it is most noticeable symptom.

Usually with such fractures there are also the Eye sockets affected so that the patient also has problems with vision and also has other symptoms such as Bruising around the eye or bloody eyeballs.

Since the nose is hit directly, it is not surprising that it sometimes occurs in most patients strong Epistaxis comes. There are tiny ones in the nose itself Vesselswhich are particularly sensitive in some people because they are particularly thin-walled. Sometimes patients already have nosebleeds if they blow their nose vigorously only once. The same applies to a broken nose in almost all patients to nosebleeds. The severity of the bleeding varies from patient to patient as it depends on the structure and extent of damage to the vessels is.

Odor disorders

Another classic symptom of a broken nose is partly longer lasting odor disturbances. It is usually difficult for the patient to identify or assign different smells over several days.
Of the complete sense of smell but only works in very rare cases lost because the Olfactory cells to regeneration are capable and therefore only suffer damage over a short period of time.

Nevertheless it can be that after a bad nasal bone fracture the olfactory cells severe damage carry away and it takes a long time before the nerves can transmit odors to the brain again.

Base of skull fracture

It is important to pay attention to accompanying symptoms in the event of a broken nose, such as Clouding of consciousness or Impaired consciousness. These symptoms can be signs that additionally structures of the Skull base injured what needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. It should urgently consulted a doctor become. Especially with one Frontal impact (e.g. a traffic accident) it is particularly important to pay attention to such symptoms and not simply assign all symptoms to the nasal bone fracture.

In the case of a broken nasal bone, it is possible that a so-called rhinobasal fracture (rhino= Nose; basal= lower part of the skullcap). That means that the Break through your sinuses and thus for one Fracture in the base of the skull to care. This is why it is very important to be on the blood when nosebleed added clear liquid to pay attention. This is mostly just something mucus from the nose, which in addition to the blood loosens and then runs out.
Holds the transparent mucus leakage from the nose as a symptom of a broken nose, the patient should urgently consult a doctor again and from the Symptoms to report. Because of the fracture of the base of the skull, namely Cerebral fluid (Cerebrospinal fluid) get out of the brain through the nose. However, it is general Rarethat there is a nasal bone fracture in addition to a rhinobasal fracture comes, mostly is only the nasal bone broken and therefore most of the symptoms can only be traced back to the broken nose.

Conclusion

Besides the classic symptoms A broken nose such as pain, swelling, and bleeding in the nose area, it is also always important to look up Concomitant symptoms to pay attention. These include the whitish leakage of fluid from the nose, pain and bruising outside the nasal area. Because the nasal bone often does not break when it is violent, but when accompanied by Fractures of the zygomatic bone or one Deflection of the temporomandibular joint.

If there are accompanying symptoms, a doctor should always be consulted again in case of doubt, in order to rule out further breaks or injuries.