What happens if I wait too long to get my broken nose fixed & and how bad does hurt to get it fixed?

Question

I got my nose broken October of 2017 and its is now March 2018 will this make a difference if I were to to get it fixed now than When I first got it broken ? Will it hurt more ?

Stephen M. Krant, MD, FACS · Answer

The surgery would be done under general anesthesia. The procedure would depend on what specifically needs to be done. The nasal bones and septum can be corrected to give better airway. Post-op, there is an internal silicone splint on either side of the septum to stabilize it...this is removed after 7-10 days. There is an external silicone splint shaped over the dorsum to decrease swelling and to stabilize the nasal bones. This is worn for 5-7 days and then at night for about two weeks.
With the above protocol, pain is usually quite minimal and does not require heavy narcotics.

John Michael Thomassen, MD · Answer

After waiting this long, the bones have healed so to correct any issues now will require refracturing the nose.  This may still have been the case even if you treated the injury in the immediate setting.

Kimberly Lee, MD · Answer

Now that the swelling has subsided from the trauma to the nose, it is a good time to address fixing the broken nose and it won't hurt more now.  The best recommendation is to have an in-person consultation with a board certified specialist who can assist you with achieving the results you seek.  3-dimensional computer imaging can help you visualize what you may look like afterwards and serve as an important communication tool with your surgeon.

Tim Sayed, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

At this juncture, your original fracture lines have healed and you will require a controlled attempt at rebreaking the bones to set them into a better position. This may take a bit longer than if it had been attempted in the early 2 weeks after injury, when the bones were potentially more mobile. You may still be able to get insurance coverage for this; it is not uncommon to get coverage even for fractures that occurred years earlier, especially if there is compromise of the breathing on one or both sides.

Jeffrey Marvel, MD · Answer

It is best to repair a broken nose in the first 2-3 weeks.  After a couple of months it doesn't really matter how long you wait.  The nose has already healed and will have to be re-broken either way.  So waiting longer at this time will be no big deal.  If we can get to them at the 2 week period it is perfect.  Often times the nose will"snap" back into position without bleeding or excessive bruising or swelling.  That's the best time for future reference.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

A broken nose can be fixed it at any time after the injury, so plan on doing it when you have the time to recuperate. Anticipate a cast applied across the bridge of the nose for one week, and visible bruising and swelling for two weeks.  In our practice, we do not place any painful packing on the inside of the nose, and therefore it is not very painful. We also perform this procedure with a closed rhinoplasty approach with all incisions placed on the inside of the nose. No external incisions are required. For many examples, please see the link below

Michael L. Schwartz, MD · Answer

there is generally a 10-14 day window at the time of a fracture to have what is called a "closed reduction" where the bones are pushed or manipulated back into place without any incisional surgery.  After that the bones become more set and more advanced techniques are needed. At this point your bones are solidly healed and it does not matter whether you do something now or in a few years. You will need some form of osteotomy with or without rhinoplasty/septoplasty to fix your nose.

Robert S. Schmidt, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. It is still absolutely possible to get your nose fixed. However, it will need to be more involved. If we see you within the first 1-2 weeks following your injury, we can usually just push the bones back to where they should be. Beyond that, your nose will need to be rebroken. While this sounds terrible, you're asleep for it and the recovery generally isn't a big deal. Good luck!

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

You can get your broken nose fixed under your insurance. Two ways to fix your nose; either in the first two weeks (closed reduction) or later (closed rhinoplasty). Waiting longer to fix will not affect your repair.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

You have not caused any problems by waiting "too long" to fix nasal fracture. In facr, many times I will advise a patient to wait until the fracture has healed so a more refined result can be achieved. Select an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon because a deviated or asymmetrical nose is more challenging.

What happens if I wait too long to get my broken nose fixed & and how bad does hurt to get it fixed?

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