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. 
 

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