(A nasal fracture is a crack or break in the bones or cartilage of your child’s nose.Child may have a break in the upper nose (bridge), the side, or in the septum.Here 6 year old boy sustained nasal injury with fracture of nasal bone and septum.This is corrected by closed reduction under anesthetic in Jubilee Hospital Trivandrum, Kerala, South India.)
Broken nose is common in children .A nasal fracture is a crack or break in the bones or cartilage part of the nose. Child may have a break in the upper nose (bridge), the side, or in the septum. The septum is in the middle of the nose and divides his nostrils.
Nasal fractures are caused by a hard hit to the nose. They commonly occur from motor vehicle crashes, sports injuries, falls, and fights.
The symptoms are:
Crooked nose: Your child’s nose may look like it has moved out of place. It may bend toward one side of his face or look wider than usual.
Nose Bleed: Bleeding from nose is a common sign of a nasal fracture. The amount of blood will depend on how badly his nose was broken.
Bruises and swelling: Child’s nose will begin to swell with black eye within 1 to 2 hours after the injury.
Diagnosis
X-rays or CT scan: X-rays may be done to help find the fracture of nasal bone and other injuries if any.
Treatment
Child is given Analgesics, Anti inflammatory and decongestants. Also a course of antibiotic is given. If any nasal bleeding the nose is packed with medicated gauze.
Closed Reduction: Some nasal fractures must be moved back into place (reduction). The reduction can be done immediately after injury, but if any edema develops, one should wait till all the swelling goes and get the procedure done.
Splints or packing: Splints or packing may be kept for few days.
Complications
If not corrected the child may have cosmetic deformity as grows older and also nasal obstruction due to deviated septum, which requires major surgical procedure later on.
Fractures in the face and head can cause cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from child’s brain to leak out of from the nose. Septal hematomas that form can lead to serious infections. These infections may be life-threatening if they spread deeper into your child’s skull or brain.
To know more about Fracture Nasal Bone Treatment:
Fracture Nasal Bone in Children
Fracture Nasal Bone Closed Reduction
