Nasal trauma is typically an injury to the nose and surrounding areas. The damage can be internal or external and tends to cause breathing issues. As the nose is a prominent facial feature and located in the center of the face, cartilage, nasal bones, and soft tissues surrounding the soft tissue become vulnerable to the injuries.

The most common type of nasal trauma includes:

• Fractures

• Nosebleeds

• Obstruction by an object

• Injuries inside of the nose

• Chemical irritation or severe allergic reactions

In most cases, blood vessels located around the nose get hurt, leading to nosebleeds. The treatment of trauma generally depends on the signs and overall condition of the injured.

What Are The Common Signs Of Nasal Trauma?

Depending on the type of injury, the signs can range from mild to severe. Even so, the common symptoms of this condition are:

• Nosebleed

• Pain in and around the nose

• Bruising around the eyes and cheek

• Difficulty breathing through the nose

• Face swelling, especially the nasal area

• Clear fluid coming from the nose

• Loss of sense of smell

• Sudden crooked nose

What Are The Common Causes?

External nasal trauma is typically caused when sudden force is applied to the nose. It can be due to:

• Sports

• Falling

• Motor vehicle accident

• Physical assault or abuse.

On the other hand, internal nasal trauma generally happens due to blood vessel damage inside the nose. Other reasons include:

• Picking or scratching the inside of the nose.

• Infection due to piercings

• Irritation due to inhaling certain chemicals

• Sniffing drugs

• Putting a foreign object inside the nose.

Whatever the cause of trauma may be, it is essential to seek immediate medical assistance to minimize the damage as much as possible.

What Are The Recommended Treatments?

The treatment of this condition depends upon the severity. Minor injuries can be easily treated with an ideal home care strategy. While, one may need to get Rhinoplasty in case of major injury, especially for a crooked nose. In fact, the rhinoplasty specialist, Dr. Fechner, opines that a combination of skin and cartilage grafting with traditional reshaping techniques can help heal the nose, both internally and externally.

The doctor will diagnose the condition by gently touching the bridge of the nose and using an X-ray and CT scan. Accordingly, they may recommend:

• Surgery: It is typically recommended for nasal fracture. Surgery helps in placing the broken pieces of bone back in their place. The patient might need to revisit the doctor to ensure that the bone is aligned correctly.

• Medication: OTC (Over-the-counter) medication may be recommended if the trauma is mild but causes pain. The medication generally includes painkillers to ease the discomfort, antibiotics to prevent or treat infections, and nasal spray to soothe irritation.

• Cauterization or packing: This treatment method is generally recommended for treating nosebleeds. The doctor will place an inflatable balloon inside the nostrils to apply pressure on the damaged blood vessel to stop bleeding. Similarly, the doctor may apply topical medication to seal the damaged blood vessels.

Key Takeaway,

No matter what the cause of a nasal trauma is, it is wise to visit the doctor as soon as possible to prevent any further damage to the nose. The doctor will diagnose the patient's condition properly and recommend effective treatment.