The nose is the most prominent part of the face, and thus, it is the most vulnerable to injury, including fracture. Because the nose is composed of both bone and cartilage, a fracture can be particularly damaging and often difficult to reconstruct. Patients trust their nasal and septal reconstruction surgery to Thrive Reconstructive Surgery, a team of reconstructive surgeons with a reputation for prompt, professional care. Learn more about our approach to nasal and septal fracture repair below.
What Causes a Nasal and Septal Fracture?
Nasal and septal fractures can be caused by a range of traumatic and non-traumatic injuries, including surgical complications, car accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, and more. Even chronic nose bleeds may result in pockets of blood, or hematomas, that require the intervention of a reconstructive surgeon.
What Are the Symptoms of a Nasal and Septal Fracture?
There are a number of common signs that indicate a nasal and septal fracture. These include:
- Tenderness and pain, particularly when you touch your nose.
- Swelling of the nose or the surrounding area.
- Persistent nose bleeds.
- Difficulty breathing through the nose.
- A nose that is visibly crooked or misshapen.
- Bruising around the nose or under the eye.
Repairing Nasal and Septal Fractures
Our initial approach to nasal and septal fractures repair is a process called closed reduction, which is a non-surgical approach to manually realign the structures of the nose, usually with the help of anxiety or pain medications to relax the patient as the procedure is performed. This process can provide significant relief of discomfort and breathing difficulties for the patient.
In more extreme cases, plastic surgeries such as rhinoplasty may be required to address concerns about the aesthetic appearance of the nose. Usually, this happens at a later date than the closed reduction, once the nose’s basic functioning has been restored.
Meet Your Doctors
At Thrive Reconstructive Surgery, we boast a team of renowned reconstructive surgeons who are known for their high standards of clinical care. We are a team of problem solvers, able to assist our patients even with the most delicate or complex procedures. We are proud of our work restoring patients to full functionality following the breaking of their nose.
Post-Repair and Recovery
Following a closed reduction procedure, patients can anticipate some swelling and potentially some minor bruising. This should subside within five to seven days. During this recovery period, we recommend that patients avoid strenuous activity. Also, try to avoid activities that might place pressure on the healing bones and tissues.
Recovery from a surgical procedure will take a little bit longer, usually around two weeks. Swelling and bruising are common. Pain can be managed with over-the-counter medications or with prescription medications as needed. The specific timeline for your recovery will depend on the severity of your nasal and septal fracture repair needs.
Get Help for Nasal and Septal Fractures
Given its prominence and its complexity, the nose is easy to break and often quite difficult to repair. Thrive Reconstructive Surgery is here to provide nasal and septal fracture repair procedures.
We welcome you to contact us directly to schedule an appointment with Thrive Reconstructive Surgery.