What is a nasal fracture?
Suffering a broken nose; whether by another person, a door, or the floor is never pleasant. Your nose will hurt—a lot. You will experience a nose bleed and may find it difficult to breathe through your nose. Swelling will develop internally and externally and you may experience black eyes. Have you ever seen a hockey player after an ice fight? Nasal fractures affect both bone and cartilage. After the break, a collection of blood (called a “septal hematoma”) can form on the nasal septum. The bottom line is that a broken nose affects more than just the nose...it affects the entire face.
When should I see a doctor?
The danger of a broken nose is internal bleeding. After a break, or other injury, it is important to see a Dr. Kevin Sadati in Orange County to diagnose septal hematoma. Your primary doctor or an emergency room physician is more than adequate to determine if you have a septal hematoma. Internal bleeding must be treated promptly to prevent other problems from developing. If you suspect your nose may be broken, see an otolaryngologist, head and neck surgeon in Newport Beach, within one week of the injury. Your nose may be fixed within one to two weeks after the injury; any longer you will likely need to wait several months before your nose can be surgically corrected. If left untreated, a broken nose can leave you with an undesirable appearance as well as permanent breathing difficulty.
