Is It Optional to Go in Surgery to Fix a Broken Nose if Thats What U Want?

A broken nose can be "set" in the office under local anesthesia or in the surgery center under IV sedation or general anesthesia. We typically try to do this within two weeks of the injury before the bones reheal in the abnormal position. I hope this information is helpful.Stephen Weber MD, FACS

The management of a broken nose can take 2 forms.  The first is to perform a closed reduction of the fracture.  This must be performed within 10 to 14 days of the fracture. It can be done under local anesthesia, sedation or general anesthesia.  You may have even seen team physicians perform this without anesthesia at all on the sidelines of a game, not what I would recommend.  The second form of management is to perform an open reduction of the fracture.  This is more similar to a Rhinoplasty and is more often choosen when there was a preexisting (before the injury) deformity or functional problem that a patient may have been worried about and had not yet addressed.  An open reduction is only performed in the most severe fractures where plating( internal fixation) may be required.  If preexisting deformities or functional problem are to be addressed then the  open reduction(Rhinoplasty) should be postponed for 3 months after the injury to allow stabalization of the fracture giving the surgeon more control in the management of the problem.  Nasal fracture if managed by closed reduction should be performed within the first 10 to 14 days.  If a deformity existed before the injury and you would like this corrected at the same time then an open reduction (Rhinoplasty)  should be performed at 12 weeks.