Can A Doctor See If Nose Cartilage is FRACTURED Upon Inspection?

Septal cartilage fractures are difficult to determine on clinical examination since there are many developmental problems there have similar characteristics.
An MRI scan may be able to detect lines of fracture but it is essentially a waste of effort because the surgery will have to determine the type of intervention required on the septum.
Displaced segments of the nasal septum can be repositioned successfully and the septal cartilage segments can be reattached. Cartilage is a special tissue that does not have the ability to heal and joint to cartilage like other tissues do. Instead, it is stabilised by scar tissue that attaches to it.
The foundation of your indication for surgery is a combination of nasal airway problems and possible external appearance issues. On this basis, your Surgeon will determine together with you the plan of action, which will always need to be adapted to the findings during surgery.

There can be multiple reasons for obstruction of the nose while breathing following a rhinoplasty. The most common reasons are swelling, secretions and mucous plugs. This should improve over the first few weeks and months. Subsequently a bony or cartilaginous obstruction is possible as is the possibility of internal valve collapse. You will need a thorough examination of the nose from the outside as well as inside to figure out a reason for the obstruction. It would be best to discuss this with your Rhinoplasty Surgeon who can examine you and help you.All the best!

It doesn't take much to obstruct a nose unfortunately. It can be bone, cartilage, mucous membranes, or the anatomic relationship between them. A nasal exam both internal and external can identify most sites of obstruction and give you an idea of what it would take to fix it. Sometimes it involves treating the nose and sinuses medically, and then if not improved looking into surgical options. Sometimes we remove the obstruction, sometimes we support the area next to the obstruction to open up the passageway, but it depends on a good diagnosis. If it is cartilage, there are usually ways to reshape or replace it in order to get it to function appropriately. Have someone do a good examination, talk with them about the findings and what it would take to correct it. 

Thank you for your question.I’m sorry to hear that you are having difficulty breathing through your nose. Any board-certified specialist will be able to perform a full clinical, including endoscopic, examination to see the anatomy of the nasal passages and determine what is causing you to have nasal obstruction.  This will apply whether it’s This will apply whether it’s due to bone, cartilage, or soft tissue.Good luck!Dr. E

A very important start is to obtain a good history from you.  Did you experience nasal trauma?  Is this chronic?  Do you have allergies?  Have you had previous nasal surgery?
Assuming this is trauma related, it is possible that something "is fractured off the bone."  A good history and a thorough nasal examination, both internal and external, can go a long ways towards making a correct diagnosis and treatment plan.  After examination by a rhinoplasty expert, additional X-rays or CT scans are often unnecessary.    
Problems that can cause nasal airway obstruction (other than septal deviation) are nasal polyps or tumors, turbinate enlargement, displaced or torn cartilage or bone, external valve collapse, internal nasal valve collapse, and scarring. 
If a proper diagnosis is made, corrective surgery is often successful.    

 To make the diagnosis of a nasal fracture, x-rays, CAT scan, and a thorough internal and external examination of  the nose is required to make a determination about medical necessity.