Anyone can suffer nasal trauma at any time. Children also suffer from this form of strain because they are more involved than adults. Trauma to the nose, both inside and outside the body, can be painful, but it can be reversed. Before calling the Rhinoplasty Specialist, there are common causes, symptoms and effects of nasal trauma.
Common Causes of Nasal Trauma
There are several different explanations of why someone may have nasal trauma. The most likely explanation for an external nasal fracture is that the nose was bumped due to a fall. But it may also be hurt by sports, fistfighting, and physical violence, or by vehicle or other incidents.
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Inner nasal trauma is somewhat different. It can be caused by prolonged scratching or picking the inside of the nose. Irritation and harm can result from the inhalation of certain substances, on purpose or by accident. It will include street drugs and aerosols.
There are also risks with piercing and foreign objects in the nose that can cause infection and harm. Since they sometimes put tiny things up their nose, small children land in the emergency room to have the items removed. This can also cause long-lasting nasal trauma.
Nasal TraumaSymptoms
There is a long list of symptoms that can be experienced during nasal tissue damage, and each person’s symptoms are different. Not all will undergo each of these nasal trauma symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms that are persistent or painful, seek medical attention immediately.
Nasal Trauma Symptoms include:
- Bruising around the eyes
- Swelling around the nose and under eyes
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
- Loss of smell
- Pain inside the nose
- Clear discharge coming from inside the nose
- Blood coming from inside the nose
Lasting Damage From Nasal Trauma
The majority of injuries to the nasal cavity can be corrected and will have a little adverse effect on the injured person. There are rare incidences, depending on the injury, that can cause long-term nasal trauma. This can include fractures in the nasal cavity. Bones that connect the nose to the skull may be weakened, which may lead to a leak in the cerebrospinal fluid. For this form of injury, the bacteria in the nose may be able to enter the spinal cord or the brain which might result in meningitis.
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Septal Hematoma is another unusual disorder that may be a consequence of nasal tissue damage. This is where a blood clot occurs inside the nose which could cause the cartilage to die inside the nose. The collapse of the nose or deformation may be the result of this sort of untreated injury.
Nasal Trauma Prevention
Nasal trauma prevention is easy and begins by taking precautions not to abuse your nose, not to use drugs, not to smoke, not to pick or scratch your nose.
You will need to be vigilant when you’re participating in sports and exercise. Wear proper safety clothing, such as helmets, face masks, and goggles. Always use seatbelts in your car or other moving vehicles and, if possible, cover your nose and face if you notice an accident that is about to happen to you.
Nasal Injury Treatment
Taking the following measures at home can help to reduce the symptoms of a broken nose before you are able to see a doctor:
- Place some ice wrapped in a cloth over the nose for around 15 minutes at a time, then remove the ice. This method can be replicated many times during the day. Use ice at the time of injury and for 1-2 days thereafter to alleviate discomfort and swelling. Be sure to take breaks in applications and do not add the ice directly to your face.
- Take paracetamol (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to reduce the discomfort. Just use these medicines as directed.
- Take an over-the-counter nasal decongestant if prescribed by your doctor to help you breathe through your nose. Make sure to read the warning labels associated with these medicines.
- Raise the head, particularly while sleeping, to prevent increased swelling of the nose. Cover your head with the pillows or raise the head of the bed by putting large blocks or phone books under the mattress.
The doctor can prescribe pain medicine, ice, and nasal decongestants only for clear breaks in which the nose has not been broken (the bone is not crooked).
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In the case of markedly displaced fractures, the doctor may attempt to re-arrange the bones. The doctor can prescribe pain medication, local anesthesia, and nasal instruments.
Not all of the displaced fractures can be re-arranged instantly and not all of the displaced fractures can be transferred to the emergency room. your doctor should be able to give you the best treatment.
If the nose continues to bleed, the doctor can insert packing into the nose. A soft gauze pad will be put in the bleeding nose and the bleeding should be completely stopped. The doctor will normally remove the packing within 2-3 days. Don’t try to remove the packing. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics and pain medication while your nose is packed. If additional injuries occur, additional medical tests and treatment can be provided.
Nasal Trauma Management
Nasal tissue injuries are usually treated by a closed reduction under local or general anaesthesia. The choice of anaesthesia does not influence the rate of success. Patients with suspected nasal trauma should be referred to the ENT department whenever possible. Closed reduction should be done until the oedema has been resolved, preferably within 10–14 days of injury.
In remote areas that do not have timely access to ENT services, adequately trained general practitioners (GPs) may perform a closed reduction under local anaesthesia in a compliant adult patient. Local anaesthetics, such as lignocaine with adrenaline, are successful when administered to the root of the nose and to the side of the bones. Serious injuries with severe external deformities or compound nasal injuries require early surgery and should be referred immediately to the emergency department.
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Children have inadequate ossification of the nasal bones and a higher proportion of the nasal cartilage; thus, they are vulnerable to greenstick injuries. The optimum timeline for reduction is three to five days after the injury and early referral to the ENT department is crucial.
In extremely vulnerable patients or patients with advanced dementia who have nasal fractures with only minimal cosmetic changes, it is advisable to explore the possibility of leaving the fracture to unite, although with a small deformity remaining. This is also more necessary to prevent further pain and possible damage from anaesthetic agents.