Can a Hit Cause a Permanent Dorsal Hump?

asked 2 years ago by Jacobblack in Pennsylvania
Latest answer by Jay Calvert, MD
Question viewed 4,599 times
Tags: dorsal hump

I was hit in the nose two days ago. Not extremely hard, but hard enough for it to be a little sore. It now looks like I have a subtle dorsal hump. Is this just swelling or is it going to permanently be like this? Also, it feels like there is a slight pressure where the hump is. I'm hoping the hump is just swelling, but it feels like bone.

11 answers to Can a Hit Cause a Permanent Dorsal Hump?

Nasal Dorsal Hump

You definely do have swelling this soon after trauma, which will continue to decrease. If this does not totally resolve, a fracture of the nasal bones may be present. This sounds unlikely, but, if you desire, see a rhinoplasty surgeon who can make a definitive diagnosis

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Nose bump due to trauma

A blow to the nose can certainly cause problems with the underlying boneinclude a and cartilage structures. This may include the causing a bump. Many bumps to the nose do not cause any permanent deformity. It just depends on the degree of trauma.

Jay Calvert, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Injury can cause a saddle deformity

Injury to the bridge of the nose can cause a small dorsal hump even without breaking the bones. This can result from the upper lateral cartilages and septum getting separated from the bone and 'falling in' thus making the bony part of the nose appear to be sticking out. This can be corrected with cartilage grafting.

Sam Naficy, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Trauma to nose can cause small dorsal hump

Getting hit in the nose can from a disruption of the bony cartilaginous junction and cause a small bump in the nose bridge. Osteocytes create inflammation and grow more bone and calcium deposits in the area, which creates a dorsal hump. If it has only been two days since the injury, it will certainly subside over the next couple of weeks.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

Nasal bump

A blow to the nose that happened two days ago may be nothing more than bruising. If however it broke the nose, you may have a permanent bump there.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Bumps on the nose after trauma

If your nose did not bleed, then it is likely a soft tissue injury that will resolve in 1-2 weeks. If any damage to the bones did occur, then it is typical to have some thickening. Bones heal by forming a temporary substrate called a callus, which is a thickened and immature version of bone. Over time the callus gets converted to normal bone (this takes many months). In some patients, the contour change can persist. Usually it goes away, though. Best of luck

Richard W. Westreich, MD
Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon

Nasal Bump Swelling or Broken Nose

Minor injuries to the nose are less likely to actually break the bones or cartilage. It's common to have nasal swelling, but epistaxis or nose bleed is the most common sign of a broken nose. Most edema of the nose resolves with a couple weeks. Sometimes scar / callous / healing tissue forms under the skin which takes months to resolve. Only after a comprehensive evaluation by a rhinoplasty surgeon or nasal specialist can one determine the extent of the injury and treatment options. Don't... more

Houtan Chaboki, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

Trauma can cause a nasal hump

A blow to the bridge of the nose can cause a hump to appear, though early on the fullness is most likely swelling. The blow must be strong enough to cause bleeding along the covering tissue over the nasal bones and cartilage, which in turn causes the thickening of the tissue and appearance of a hump. Ice for now and wait it out. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Dorsal Hump

Based on your description, you likely just have swelling causing the appearance of a dorsal hump. However, if the hump remains for several weeks (enough time for the swelling to resolve) you have actually fractured your nose and caused the hump. If you are concerned, you can see your doctor for an evaluation. Good luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Nasal bumps and what to do about them.

From what you described, this is only swelling and will go away. The kind of trauma that causes a permanent bump is much more forceful and the nose bleeds.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Bumps after nasal trauma may remain or go away

When you get hit in the nose there is soft tissue swelling of the skin over the nasal bones that may last for a few days to two weeks. A non-displaced nasal fracture can cause bony swelling and healing tissue, called a callous. This callus may go away over a few months or remain. If your nose is tilted to the side after trauma it is certainly broken and may be amenable to a closed reduction (simple straightening) for up to 2 weeks following trauma.