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May 16, 2012
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Broken Nose
(Nasal Fracture)

Medical Author:
John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

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Medical Editor:
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP
Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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Broken Nose Facts

Medically reviewed by: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

  • A broken nose or nasal fracture is usually the result of external trauma.
  • The most common cause of a broken nose is fights. Sports injuries are the least common cause of a broken nose.
  • Symptoms of a broken nose include swelling, bruising, a black eye, nosebleeds, pain, tenderness when touching the nose, or deformity of the nose.
  • A broken nose can be diagnosed with X-rays, CT scan, or most commonly physical exam.
  • Treatment for a broken nose is generally with home care including OTC pain medication, ice, and rest.
  • More severe facial fractures that include a broken nose may require surgery.

Broken Nose Overview

A broken nose is any crack or fracture in the bony portion of the nose.

This is usually a result of external trauma. Blows to the face during altercations, vehicle accidents, falls, and sports injury are the most common reasons for a fractured nose.

Nasal fractures are often cited as the most common type of facial fracture, accounting for approximately half of all facial fractures in several studies.

Broken Nose Causes

Causes of a broken nose are related to trauma to the nose or face. Common sources of trauma include the following:

  • The most common cause of a broken nose are fights (34%), accidents (28%), and sports (23%). A 2009 study of 236 patients with facial fractures incurred while playing sports found fractures of the the nasal bone to be the most common.
  • Sports injury
  • Personal fights
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Falls
  • In children, nasal fractures are most commonly due to falls.

Broken Nose Pictures


Picture of the types of nasal fractures.

Picture of a Broken Nose

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Broken Nose Symptoms»
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Broken Nose - Symptoms

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What symptoms did you experience with a broken nose?

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Broken Nose

Broken Nose (Nasal Fracture) »

Topic Overview

How do I get a broken nose?

You can break your nose during play, sports, accidents, fights, and falls. But it may be hard to tell if your nose is broken. Swelling can make your nose look crooked even if it is not broken. When the swelling goes down after a few days, it is easier to tell if your nose is really crooked and possibly broken.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of a broken nose include:

  • Nose pain.
  • Swelling of the nose.
  • A crooked or bent appearance.
  • Bruising around the nose or eyes.
  • A runny nose or a nosebleed.
  • A grating sound or feeling when the nose is touched or rubbed.
  • Blocked nasal passages.

Possible complications of a broken nose include:

  • Change in the appearance of the nose or the tip of the nose.
  • A large amount of blood in the nasal septum (nasal septal hematoma).
  • A hole in the nasal septum (septal perforation) or cau...

Read the Broken Nose (Nasal Fracture) article »


Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Nasal and Septal Fractures »

Nasal fractures are the most common types of facial fractures; however, they are often unrecognized and untreated at the time of injury.

Read More on Medscape Reference »

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