What are the signs and symptoms of a broken nose?

Here is my take on broken noses:  A nose can be technically broken but not have outward or inward deformity and not cause any cosmetic or functional change:   You look the same (after the swelling goes down in a week) and you have no change in nasal breathing.  Thus, regardless of an x-ray finding, nothing needs to be done.  If there is an obvious deformity or difficulty breathing after a week, then further treatment is indicated. 
 

Thank you for your question.  Unless there is an obvious nasal deformity or you are having great difficulty breathing through the nose, an x-ray would be the best way to diagnosis a nasal fracture.  With that said, it is possible that a fracture might not show up on an x-ray as it can be masked by swelling.  Interestingly enough and a fact that is commonly overlooked is that one can technically have a nose break or fracture that has no visible deformity and does not have any breathing or cosmetic implications.  In these cases, no treatment is necessary as the patient is experiencing no issues. If you are concerned that you may have a broken nose, I would recommend seeing a board-certified plastic surgeon for a physical exam.  

Great question,
You would know if there is an obvious cosmetic deformity or you have difficulty breathing...
If your nose looks deviated, changed in appearance, or you have difficulty breathing, the nyou know it is broken in a way that needs to be addressed.
There are times when the nose is broken but does not need any surgery because the shape or function is not affected.
Please note that x-ray is not helpful and the best thing to do is to have it evaluated by an experienced surgeon.Broken nose, bleeding and nasal congestion are sometimes related or could be separate entities.Typically,
using a closed reduction a simple fracture can be repaired. Sometimes
surgery will be needed to re-position the bones into a better alignment,
using osteotomies. Bleeding can happen with nasal fracture or as
an unrelated issue and can be fixed by office evaluation/ cautery/ or
packing and taking anti-hypertensives meds if needed. Fracture or
bleeding can cause congestion. However, the majority of congestion is
formed by allergies and this condition can be corrected with medical
treatment.Lastly, sometimes septal deviation, nasal valve
collapse or turbinate hypertrophy can create congestion or difficulty
breathing and these conditions can also be corrected by specific
procedures.
I would recommend that you would be seen by a nose specialist with passion for rhinoplasty.Best wishes,Dr Sajjadian, Triple Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
DrSajjadian.com
Hope this is helpful.

It can sometimes be difficult to tell if you've suffered a broken nose. Some of the tell tale symptoms include fairly significant pain and continued tenderness for days after the initial injury, bruising of the area, a bloody nose, increased nasal congestion, or hearing/feeling a loud pop or crack during the initial trauma. Any visible external changes to the upper third of the nose can also indicate a fracture. Sometimes, if the fracture is significant enough, you can actually feel some of the bones moving when you palpate the area. If you are seen in the ER or urgent care, they will frequently order an xray or other scan of the nose which can confirm the diagnosis.
One thing I always remind patients with any concern for a broken nose, is get in to see someone that can manage this within around 5-10 days after the injury. This includes Facial Plastic Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons, or most ENTs. After about 14 days, the bones will heal and fuse in their current position and if they are misaligned, they will be unable to be addressed without going to the OR and "rebreaking" the bones.
Hope this helps! Kyle Kimura, MD

Hello, thanks for the great question!
Signs and symptoms of a broken nose include: tenderness to touch, new deviation or any change to the shape of the nose, swelling, bruising, bleeding, change to your ability to breath through the nose, and black and blue eyes. The first thing to do in a situation in which you believe the nose may have been broken is to hold pressure if there is heavy bleeding and to head to the closest nasal specialist near you, which includes ENT doctors and plastic surgeons. If there are no specialists available, the next best place to go is to the emergency room. A trained professional should perform a complete head and neck exam to determine in the nasal bones are fractures. Typically imaging is not required for diagnosis. If the bones are in fact broken, they should suggest either immediate reduction or a delayed reduction sometime within the next few days to weeks.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Dr. G
Dominick J Gadaleta, MDFacial Plastic SurgeonDG Facial Plastic SurgeryPalo Alto, CA

The clinical symptoms of a broken nose after a nose trauma or accident are:  bleeding, swelling, bruising around the eyes, deformity such as a crooked nose, or flat nose, difficulty breathing and some times pain.  My advise is to go immediatly to an emergency room to be examined and have some x rays and CT scans taken and if possible having your nose taken care that same day

The most obvious sign of a broken nose is crockedness. This can be difficult to see early after the injury becase of swelling. Bruising (black eyes), a nose bleed at the time of the injury are also suggestive of a break. However, swelling can make it difficult to evaluate for a break, so it's always best to see a qualified physician to evaluate the injuryt. If you have severe pain inside the nose and blockage of nasal breathing, an injury called a septal hematoma is possible. In that case seek medical attention right away. Thanks for your question. 

Any traumatic nasal injury can cause the following:
Bleeding
Swelling
Change in the shape of your nose
Septal Haematoma (blood collection in the septum) - this needs to be dealt with urgently

I would suggest seeing an ENT/nasal surgeon as soon as this has occurred to ensure there are no acute complications that need addressing eg. Haematoma. If there is an obvious deformity, this needs to addressed within 2 weeks via a simple manipulation of the nasal bones. Any longer and you will require a formal rhino/septorhinoplasty.

If you have sustained trauma to your nose and are concerned that you may have broken your nose I recommend that you seek the care of a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon.  
Signs and symptoms of a broken nose can include but are not limited to:
Nasal bleeding after injury
Sustained nasal pain after injury
Change in nasal shape
Change in ability to breathe

Some of the most common symptoms of a broken nose include pain, bleeding, bruising, swelling, nasal obstruction (feeling like you cannot breathe out of your nose properly). If you have any of these symptoms, especially after experiencing some sort of trauma to the face, I suggest you see a board certified facial plastic surgeon right away. 


Gary Linkov, MD
Rhinoplasty Specialist
Manhattan

This is a good question that my staff has to answer on phone calls and emails almost daily. I you just have swelling your nose may or may not be broken--probably not. But if you have black and blue lower lids and nasal bleeding then there is a strong possibility of a nasal fracture. Of course if the nose is shifted off the midline or depressed then there is no doubt. Nasal airway obstruction could indicate a deviation of the septum as well a fracture.
I typical don't x-ray the nose as my exam is more accurate. If your nose is straight with swelling, I wait a week and reexamine to see if the fracture is then visible or palpable, before deciding on a treatment plan.