Dangers and consequences of a broken nose

The consequences of a broken nose can be the most unpleasant if measures are not taken in time to eliminate it. This injury is most common in maxillofacial surgery, as the nose is the most fragile part of the face and is made up of bones and cartilage. It is noteworthy that if the organ is small, it is more difficult to break it. If a fracture is detected or suspected, the patient should immediately seek medical help, otherwise complications may occur.

Causes of injury

A fracture of the nose can occur under different circumstances, most often it is associated with non-compliance with safety precautions. This kind of problem is faced mainly by men aged 16 to 40 years. Statistics say that rightward displacement occurs in most cases, since the blow is mainly delivered with the right hand to the left side of the face. Trauma happens:

• household - appears when falling, during fights, attacks;
• sports - a consequence of engaging in contact sports, in which it is impossible to do without damage;
• transport - occurs in road traffic accidents;
• production - happens when a person ignores the safety rules at the enterprise;
• military - obtained during the conduct of hostilities.

Damage types

Since the nose has a complex structure and consists of different tissues, its injuries can be of a different nature. With a fracture, the slightest nuances are taken into account, this helps to choose the right treatment tactics in order to avoid complications. These types of fractures are classified:

• closed (characterized by a violation of the integrity of cartilage, bones and mucous membranes, but maintaining the integrity of the skin);
• open (visible with the naked eye, fragments and parts of bones tear the skin);
• rhinokyphosis (trauma leads to the formation of a hump, most often it is located on the bridge of the nose);
• with displacement (when bones and cartilage are displaced);
• with retraction of the bone or cartilaginous back of the nose;
• without displacement (when the integrity of bone or cartilaginous tissues is violated, but they do not go out of their plane).

Each type of damage can lead to one or another consequence. The mildest form is a closed fracture without displacement, with proper therapy, it heals within 2-6 weeks.

The most severe case is when the patient has an open fracture with displacement. In such cases, the patient can acquire serious cosmetic and functional problems, if not in time to seek help.

Signs of a fracture

In some cases, the diagnosis of a fracture is difficult, especially when it comes to its closed form without displacement. It is difficult for the doctor to draw conclusions, since the bruise has similar symptoms. Also, signs may indicate a concussion, but using all diagnostic methods, it is possible to accurately classify the injury and its severity. The patient has the following symptoms of a violation of the integrity of cartilage and bones:

• swelling of the mucous membrane, which makes it difficult to conduct an examination;
• bleeding;
• excessive discharge of mucus from the nose;
• swelling in the area of ​​injury;
• the presence of hematomas in the eyelids and under the eyes;
• partial or complete loss of vision;
• pain that can radiate to the frontal part;
• clouding or loss of consciousness;
• increased body temperature;
• lachrymation, which increases when the head is thrown to the side.

Consequences of violation

It is impossible to predict exactly what a broken nose can lead to. The body of each person behaves differently when receiving serious injuries and violation of the integrity of tissues. Also, much depends on the degree of organ deformation, the presence of ENT diseases and the time when the patient turned to a doctor for help. However, there are a number of consequences that can be encountered, we will consider them in more detail.

1. Damage to the organs of vision. When injured, the organs of vision may be affected, as they are located very close to the nose. The manifestations of this disorder are complete or partial loss of vision, displacement of the eyeball and the lack of its response to light, hemorrhage in the anterior chamber of the eyes. In some cases, lost functions can be restored, but sometimes it cannot be done.
2. Tearing of the rigid membrane of the brain. Most often it occurs from deformation of the ethmoid plate of the nose, if the integrity of the bones of the skull is disturbed, then there is a high probability of infection in the brain and the development of meningitis.
3. Rhinitis. Violation of the integrity of the mucous membranes can lead to their hypersecretion, due to which the patient acquires a persistent runny nose. Also, the cause of rhinitis can be constant irritation of the cilia by air turbulence, which are formed when the dynamics of air flow after a fracture is disturbed.
4. Sinusitis. Severe trauma in some cases leads to total obstruction of the ducts that drain mucus from the paranasal sinuses. This leads to fluid stagnation and impaired ventilation, which is an ideal environment for the development of infections. Chronic sinusitis is a common complication of a fracture.
5. Bleeding. When injured, the structure of bones, cartilage and mucous tissues changes, they are depleted and become weak. This leads to sudden bleeding.
6. Synechia. In the nasal cavity after a fracture, connective tissue can form, which grows together with healthy areas - synechia. They can be soft or hard, resemble externally thin threads and fill almost the entire nostril. Synechiae must be removed, as they lead to a number of complications.
7. Difficulty breathing while sleeping. Snoring occurs after a fracture in most cases. This is due to improper distribution of air flow in the nasal cavity.
8. 3 Neuritis of the triple nerve. The complication is rather difficult to diagnose, especially in the early stages, since pain occurs in a certain area that has succumbed to injury. Elimination of pathology is carried out under the supervision of a neuropathologist.
9. Dry mouth and nasopharynx. In case of damage, the nasal mucosa can not only increase its secretion, but also reduce it. The formation of seals and dysfunction of the ciliated epithelium can lead to sensations of dryness in the nose, mouth, and nasopharynx.
10. Anosmia. Loss of smell can be partial or complete. This is due to damage to the olfactory epithelium and infections that often develop after a fracture in the nose and paranasal sinuses. In some cases, it is possible to regain the sense of smell after treatment, but sometimes this is not possible.

There are also cosmetic problems. Curvature of the nasal septum, wings and other abnormalities that are visible to the naked eye can cause a lot of inconvenience to patients. In this case, an operation is performed to restore the normal shape of the nose - rhinoplasty.

Diagnostic features

When a patient enters the traumatology department, the main task of the doctor is to quickly find out the degree of damage to the nose and all the features of the injury. Not being able to provide first aid means allowing complications to arise. To identify the nature and type of fracture, the doctor uses the following techniques:

• Collecting anamnesis. From the patient's words, the doctor finds out under what circumstances the fracture was formed, he is interested in contact with which object or object led to injury. Also, the specialist finds out the presence of concomitant diseases and ENT disorders while taking anamnesis.
• Inspection.Sometimes a visual examination is enough to make a diagnosis, especially when it comes to an open fracture. The doctor inspects not only the damaged areas, but also nearby ones to assess the extent of the injury.
• Palpation. With the help of tactile contact, the doctor establishes the degree of painful sensations of the patient, probes the debris that may form during a fracture, finds out the type of deformity and the degree of its severity. Palpation is also necessary to locate the site of edema and bleeding.
• Rhinoscopy. There are posterior and anterior rhinoscopy. By examining the inner surface of the nose, you can determine the exact location of the fracture, assess the severity of rupture of the mucous membranes. However, this technique is not always suitable for diagnosis, since in most cases examination is impossible due to severe mucosal edema.
• Radiography. On the X-ray, you can see the fracture line, bone fragments and their location, and find out the degree of damage.
• CT scan. Appointed for a more detailed study of the situation. Allows you to more accurately see the fracture itself and its signs. CT is also necessary to examine the paranasal sinuses, skull bones, eye sockets and other nearby organs.
• ECHO Garfia. Ultrasound examination is aimed at identifying the volume of damaged tissue.
• Endoscopy. With the help of a special endoscope device, the doctor can examine in detail the posterior walls of the nasal cavity and its septum. The study reveals the presence of microhematomas and ruptures of the mucous membrane.

Treatment

First aid for fractures is mandatory. It is best to use ice bags or something similar to stop the blood and relieve pain. It is not allowed to adjust the nose, bury any means or take other measures before the arrival of the ambulance. The choice of therapy is made by the doctor after assessing all the nuances of the damage.

To improve the patient's condition, doctors perform the following procedures:

1. Anesthesia. The fracture causes a severe painful spasm both in the nose and in the head, therefore anesthesia is referred to as first aid.
2. Instillation of vasoconstrictor drugs. The fracture can cause swelling and stenosis of the paranasal sinuses. To prevent this, you need to immediately use vasoconstrictor drugs, they are instilled directly into the nasal passages.
3. Reposition. The reduction of bone fragments is done manually. Immediately after the fracture, this procedure is done only in cases where breathing is too difficult, if the defect does not have a strong effect on the respiratory function, then the patients are repositioned after 1-2 days when the edema subsides. Reduction is performed under local anesthesia or general anesthesia; the latter is most often indicated for children.
4. Drainage of septal hematoma. Removal of fluid from the site of hematoma formation helps prevent tissue infection and cartilage necrosis.
5. Splinting. A special splint is applied to the broken nose in order to fix it in the correct position. It is removed after a few weeks, depending on the severity of the deformity.
6. Rhinoplasty. Plastic surgery to remove defects in the nose is done under general anesthesia. It helps to get rid of cosmetic defects and various functional disorders.

It is important to know that if the patient does not go to the doctor within 3 weeks after the injury, then the surgical intervention will be performed only 4-6 months later, when all the tissues are restored and they can be broken down again to fix the problem.

Drawing conclusions

A broken nose can lead not only to discomfort due to the appearance, but also to other more serious complications. To avoid the addition of infections and the development of concomitant diseases, you need to seek medical help in time. The sooner you get a consultation with a doctor, the more chances you have to quickly correct the situation.