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Nose trauma
Written By: Dr Ibrahim Issa MD. Otolaryngology Consultant , Laryngologist & Phonosurgeon.
Edited By: Dr Mohammad Murad MD. Otolaryngology Specialist.
Nasal bones are the most common bones in the body to be fractured, because nose trauma generally is very common.
The main thing to know about nose trauma is how to deal with the patient before you send him to seek medical advice. I will put the information as points so you can check the list to know what to do with your friend or family member when their nose got het:
- First to do is to be sure the patient is breathing well, the position of the head should not permit the blood to block the breathing of the patient.
- Try to stop the bleeding by compression on the nasal cartilage by pinching the nose between the thumb and the index fingers tightly without touching the nasal bone and without putting things inside the nose. (see nose bleeding article)
- Arrange for mobilization of the patient to the nearest medical service as soon as possible even when the trauma is mild and there is no bleeding because the first two hours are the best time to fix any simple fracture before the nose starts to swell up, and to diagnose and treat any hematoma in the nose or the septum to prevent any future complications.
- Remember that the nose is part of the head, and a nose trauma is a trauma to the head, so mobilization of the patient should be done carefully and by the specialized person if the trauma is sever and evaluation should include the head, neck and both eyes to rule out other related serious trauma.
- Swelling of the face and nose doesn’t mean a bone fracture; sometimes a contusion may cause severe swelling. And not all nose fractures needs correction, this depends on the site, relations and deviation, so leave that to the decision of the specialist.
- Most of bleeding cases after trauma could be stopped without sutures or surgeries, compression, packing and sometimes nose drops can take care of it.
- Putting ice on the nose and forehead is helpful in cases of trauma even without the presence of bleeding because it decreases the facial and nasal swelling.Written By: Dr Ibrahim Issa MD. Otolaryngology Consultant , Laryngologist & Phonosurgeon.Edited By: Dr Mohammad Murad MD. Otolaryngology Specialist.
