MEDICAL UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF PROPAEDEUTICS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE First Aid
Broken Nose & First
Aid For Broken Nose
• Arpit Gajankush & Prince Mishra
• Group No. 115 Introduction • A broken nose is a crack or fracture of the bony portion • of the nose caused by trauma or a blow to the nose or • face from such events as a sports injury, personal fights • or domestic violence, and motor-vehicle accidents. Signs • of a broken nose include tenderness when touching the • nose, swelling of the nose or face, bruising of the nose • or black eyes, a nose that appears deformed or crooked, • nosebleed, a crunching or crackling sound or sensation • when touching the nose similar to the sound that you • make when you rub hair between two fingers, and pain • and difficulty exhaling through the nostrils. Treatment is typically with pain medication and cold compresses. Reduction, if needed, can typically occur after the swelling has come down. Depending on the type of fracture reduction may be closed or open. Outcomes are generally good. Nasal fractures are common, comprising about 40% of facial fractures. Males in their 20s are most commonly affected. Diagnosis • Nasal fractures are usually identified visually and through physical examination. Medical imaging is generally not recommended. A priority is to distinguish simple fractures limited to the nasal bones (Type 1) from fractures that also involve other facial bones and/or the nasal septum (Types 2 and 3). In simple Type 1 fractures X-Rays supply surprisingly little information beyond clinical examination. However, diagnosis may be confirmed with X-rays or CT scans, and these are required if other facial injuries are suspected. • A fracture that runs horizontally across the septum is sometimes called a "Jarjavay fracture", and a vertical one, a "Chevallet fracture". • Although treatment of an uncomplicated fracture of nasal bones is not urgent—a referral for specific treatment in five to seven days usually suffices—an associated injury, nasal septal hematoma, occurs in about 5% of cases and does require urgent treatment and should be looked for during the assessment of nasal injuries. First Aid • Follow the steps below if you suspect a broken nose: • 1. Apply an ice pack to the nose immediately for about • fifteen minutes at a time and repeat multiple times • throughout the day and for one to two days following • the injury, to reduce pain and swelling. Make sure • to take breaks between cold-pack applications, and • never apply the ice directly to the skin. • 2. OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen • can be taken as required and as directed to reduce pain. Avoid aspirin because it may increase the chance of bleeding and swelling. • 3. OTC nasal decongestants may help to aid in breathing • through the nostrils. • 4. Sleep with the head of your bed elevated to help with • swelling of the nose. • Call the doctor if: • The pain or swelling doesn’t go away in three days • Your nose looks crooked • You are not able to breathe through the nose after the • swelling has gone down • You have a fever • You begin to have frequent nosebleeds • You feel that you have any injury that requires medical • attention • Go to an emergency department immediately if: • You have bleeding that you can’t easily get under • control • You have clear fluid draining from the nose • You have any other injuries to the face or the body • You were knocked out • You experience severe headaches that aren’t relieved • by OTC medication • You are vomiting repeatedly • You have a decrease or change in vision • You have any neck pain • You have numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms • You have severe pain in your nose References The Everything First Aid Book.pdf www.wedmd.com www.cnabuzz.com