A nasal fracture commonly referred to, as a broken nose is a break or crack in a bone or in the cartilage in a person’s nose. These breaks most often occur over the bridge of the nose or in the septum (the area that divides the nostrils.) This usually occurs after an injury and can produce problems with appearance and breathing.
Some of the indications that you may be a good candidate for nasal fracture are that you have:
Anyone who just broke their nose due to an accident or other matter can usually be diagnosed by performing a physical examination, which involves looking at and touching the patient’s nose and face. If the patient is in a lot of pain, their nose injury appears to be severe or is accompanied by other facial injuries, their Doctor may order an X-ray or Computed Tomography (CT) scan to determine the extent of damage to the nose and face.
The ideal candidate for Nasal Fracture Surgery is someone who is in good physical and mental health. Smokers are encouraged to quit at least a couple of weeks before the procedure and it is also recommended to not drink alcohol before and after surgery. This promotes proper healing and aids in avoiding complications during the procedure.
Dr. Zacharia will explain what can be done to assist eligible candidates for this procedure. He will discuss the steps of the proposed surgery and the variables that may affect the procedure. Physical characteristics such as the size and shape of nasal bones and cartilage, as well as the thickness of skin may affect the technical considerations.
The cost of Nasal Fracture surgery varies to each individual, as well as the complexity of the procedure performed. The cost will be based on specific fees for the physician, anaesthetic, hospital, and if applicable, charges for an overnight stay.
Any surgery performed for purely aesthetic reasons will not be covered by health insurance. In cases where the procedure is considered medically necessary, such as corrections of birth defects or damage due to trauma, the procedure may be covered. It is recommended that patients discuss what will be covered by their insurers prior to booking the procedure.
Book a consultation, request a quote online, or contact the staff at Dr. Zacharia’s rooms today on (02) 9192 1600.
At the consultation, Dr. Zacharia will discuss the procedure, risks and limitations, costs involved, patient expectations and goals, as well as the recovery process. He will also conduct a medical examination and help the patient prepare both physically and mentally for Nasal Fracture Surgery.
Dr. Zacharia will then provide a checklist surgery information package that explains everything a patient should do and know before their Nasal Fracture Surgery date.
In most nasal surgeries, general anaesthesia is used. However in some cases, local anaesthesia with intravenous sedation may be used. Dr. Zacharia and his anaesthetist will assist patients in making the decision regarding which type of anaesthesia is best for their individual procedure.
Nasal Fracture Surgical duration is approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour. Once the patient is asleep, the nose will be manipulated back in the right place. This usually does not involve having to make any cuts on the outside or inside of the nose. When the bones of the nose break, the cartilage in the nose can sometimes bend and may also need to be straightened.
To help protect the nose after the surgery, a splint is often placed to maintain the nose. This stays in place for around seven to ten days. If the nose bleeds at the time of surgery packs will be placed in each nostril. These packs are removed on the day following surgery.
It is likely to be sore and regular painkillers will be arranged. The discomfort is usually worse for the first few days although it may take a couple of weeks to completely disappear. Broken noses usually heal without infection and it is not necessary to give patients any antibiotics.
There is a variable amount of swelling and bruising around the eyes. These changes are most noticeable in the first 24 hours after surgery and have very much reduced by the end of the first week. Swelling and bruising can be reduced by using cold compresses around the eyes and sleeping propped upright for the first few days after surgery. Most of the swelling has disappeared after a fortnight, but there is often some subtle swelling that can take several months to resolve, although only the patient and their family are likely to notice this.
Before patients leave hospital, an appointment will be arranged to remove the splint and review the patient in the outpatient department. It is important to keep any dressings as dry as possible until they are removed.
No surgery is risk free. As with all procedures, there are number of risks and complications. Understanding the risks is imperative and Dr. Zacharia discusses these openly with prospective patients in the initial consultation.
The chance that any of these complications may occur during the surgery or during recovery is usually very small.
The following is a list the most common risks that may occur, such as occasionally the nose may start to bleed again once the packs have been removed. This bleeding usually settles by applying pressure and pinching the nose. Rarely do the packs need to be reinserted.
Some people who have broken noses straightened require further revisionary surgery to improve the appearance or help with breathing. This is usually not carried out for several months because it can take as long as this for all the bruising and swelling to completely disappear.
During the initial consultation, Dr. Zacharia will answer any questions and make sure the patient fully understands all possible complications involved with the surgery.
Depending on the injury and the amount of damage, the time to heal after a broken nose can vary greatly. Nasal bone fractures usually heal enough within two weeks that closed reduction to repair the fracture is no longer possible.
This varies enormously from person to person and depends on what kind of work they do. It is recommend that most people have around a week off.
Anytime that the skin is cut, a scar is formed. Incision healing is dependent on several factors, including surgical technique, prevention of infection, reduction of tension, patient nutrition, as well as smoking (before or after surgery), etc.
It is possible for a nose to break and not have any visible deformity of the nose or external scarring. Most often, a severe break will cause some shifting of the nose to one side or the other or, possibly, flattening of the nasal bridge.
A broken nose will usually heal within three to four weeks and swelling can last between six to twelve months.