What causes a broken nose deformity?
Broken nose deformity (nasal bone fracture) occurs when one experiences some sort of trauma to the nose, either in an accident, a physical altercation, or while playing sports. The trauma breaks one or both nasal bones causing a cosmetic deformity, or the appearance of a crooked nose. If the person does not seek corrective treatment in a timely manner, the nasal bones will heal in position of their broken state.
What are the symptoms related to broken nose deformity?
Cosmetic deformity of the nose is usually the most common complaint regarding broken nose deformity. Depending on the severity of the broken nose, the septum (the wall that separates the left and right nasal passage) may also be involved and deviated to one or both sides. A deviated septum can cause you to have difficulty breathing through the nose, or recurrent nosebleeds.
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A broken nose deformity (left) as compared to normal (right)
How is a broken nose deformity treated?
Broken nose deformities are most easily fixed within the first 2 weeks of injury. Often, time is given in the first several days for the swelling around the nose to subside before being able to determine how bad the cosmetic deformity will be. Sometimes the nasal bone fractures are so small they they do not need any treatment at all. Repair of the nasal bone fractures is performed as outpatient surgery under anesthesia, in which the nasal bones are moved (or reduced) back into their original anatomic position. The healing process will continue with the nasal bones in their correct alignment.
If too much time passes from the initial injury, the nasal bones will heal in their crooked position. When this happens, placing the bones back into their original position will require re-breaking (aka osteotomies). Typically, this procedure will also involve improving the appearance of other related nasal deformities, including the nasal tip or hump. This type of surgery is called a rhinoplasty.
