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Medical Author:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

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

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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• For simple breaks in which the nose has not been displaced (the bone is not crooked), the doctor may prescribe only pain medication, ice, and nasal decongestants.
• For markedly displaced fractures, the doctor may attempt to realign the bone pieces. The doctor may use pain medication, local anesthesia, and nasal instruments.
Most repairs of nasal fractures are done after the swelling has subsided.
• Not all displaced fractures can be relocated immediately.
• Not all displaced fractures can be relocated in the emergency department. Some fractures may require and ear, nose and throat physician (ENT, or otolaryngologist) for surgery.

If the nose continues to bleed, the doctor may insert packing into the nostrils.

• A soft gauze pad will be placed in the bleeding nostril and should stop the nosebleed completely. The doctor or ENT usually removes the packing in 2-3 days.
• Do not attempt to remove this packing.
• The doctor will sometimes prescribe antibiotics and pain medication while the packing is in place.
• If other injuries exist, additional diagnostic tests and treatment may be given.

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