I took a really bad hit to the nose in rugby and broke my nose, I can't breath through the right nostril. Any suggestions?

Yes, as long as you play rugby you will be exposed to similar injuries. However, can you play competitively  with such obstructed nose and difficult breathing? You may consider airway and nose correction by means of rhino-septoplasty in order to continue playing rugby. Is a nasal/facial mask an option when playing rugby?You should consult a board certified plastic surgeon or ENT surgeon for detailed clinical evaluation and discuss your options. Good luck. 

Difficulty Breathing,
after nose fractureAfter a trauma to the
nose you should immediately see a doctor to examine you. If the nasal bones are fractured they can be
inset. Bleeding under the mucosa of the
septal cartilage can lead to devastating complications and should be
immediately drained. If too much time is
taken to seek care then the bones can heal in the wrong position which can lead
to obstruction of the nasal passages in addition to a deviation of the
nose. Fractures of the septum can also cause the
nose to become deviated and also obstruct the airway. If the nose has
healed with the bones out of position or the septum has become deviated then
the bones will have to be broken and repositioned correctly and the septal
deviation corrected. Correction of the
anatomy can improve the obstruction of the nasal airway.Difficulty
breathing after a rhinoplasty can occur from the nasal bones being brought in,
or the internal nasal valves being injured when the nasal hump is reduced. Both of these can be corrected by an expert
in this field. Best of luck,
Dr. Michael OmidiAn in-person exam with a
board-certified plastic surgeon is the best way to assess your needs and
provide true medical advice. The response to the question does not constitute
a doctor patient relationship or formal advice.

Hello Rugby player,I would agree with your physician.  You clearly do have a break based on your description and inability to breathe.  The problem is that if you get a repair and continue to play a sport like Rugby where there is a high likelihood of it breaking again, then that would make things much more complicated.  Every time you have a nasal operation it makes the result less predictable and more difficult.  Depending on how long ago your nose was broken (really if it is within the last few days), then you would be a candidate for a closed reduction.  What that involves is either having your awake or preferably going to sleep and then reposition the broken pieces without making any cuts.  You then leave a splint on the outside of the nose for a week to help the bones heal back in the right spot.  The same would be attempted on the septum to improve your breathing with splints placed there as well.  This doesn't burn any bridges for future repair, but the likelihood of a complete success with this technique is only about 50%.If you do want to try this route, I'd recommend you consult with a facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon ASAP as there is a narrow window when this technique can be performed.  I hope this helps and good luck.  

 Trauma to the nose can cause a variety of issues including a displaced nasal fracture, and a deviated septum. A septoplasty can be performed to improve air flow through the nose as a stand-alone procedure. A rhinoplasty procedure can be performed to straighten the broken nose. Both procedures can be performed together or separately, depending upon the patient's desires. It's usually recommended to wait until after contact sports are finished before electing to undergo nasal surgery with a potential to be fractured again. For more information, many examples and diagrams discussing the differences between a rhinoplasty and septoplasty, please see the video below

Thanks for your question. As you know, Rugby is a pretty rough sport. If you were to have surgery to fix your nose now, it would probably make it more likely to fracture in the future because of the nature of the operation. Also, it's harder to fix a nose if it's already been fixed before because of scarring and other things. It all comes down to what you're willing to put up with. You can have surgery now, knowing that you risk having bigger issues in the future if you keep playing rugby, or you can wait until you're done. I've certainly given this advice to football and basketball players. Most choose to keep playing and fix it after they're done. But some take the risk. Good luck!

If your nose looks different and/or you can't breathe through the nose after a nasal injury, you do fulfill the criteria for nasal surgery.  However, if you are an avid contact sport athlete, you are at a higher risk for traumatizing your nose again.  Injuring the nose again after having had a surgery may mean you need another surgery.  And at that time, the surgery will be much more difficult than the first time.  To prevent this, it may be wise to hold off the surgery until you know you will play less of that contact sport.  Good luck!

Dear Rugby Player,Thank you for your story. Without photos or a in person exam I can only give you general advice. However I hope you find them helpful.1) airway obstruction can be caused bya) deviated septumb)fractured nasal bonesc) large turbantesd) combination of the above2) repair is done bya) septoplastyplasty b) relocating displaced nasal bonesc) reduction of turbinatesSince your nasal problems was caused by trauma and you continue to engage in this high impact sport, the likely chance that you will again traumatize your nose, I would reccommend foregoing repair until you retire from such activity.I trust that you have chosen a Plastic Surgeons who is experienced and Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. In addition ideally they are members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (denoting by membership as having met additional criteria and a focus on Cosmetic Plastic Surgery).I wish you my best and success,R. A. Hardesty, MD, FACSDiplomate and Certified by the Am. Bd. of Plastic Surgerywwwimagineplasticsurgery.com4646 Brockton AveRiverside, Ca 92506(951) 686-7600