Patient education: Nose fracture or injury – ED discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").

What should I know? — 

You came to the ED for a nose injury. A broken nose is also called a "nose fracture."

Your "nasal septum" might also be damaged. This is the cartilage that divides the 2 sides of the nose.

You probably have pain, swelling, or bruising over the area. Your nose might look bent or crooked. If a fracture injures a nerve, this can also cause symptoms in nearby areas, like tingling or weakness.

Not all nose injuries need an X-ray or other imaging test in the ED. The doctor can often tell if you might have a nose fracture by doing an exam. Sometimes, they need to wait until swelling goes down to decide what treatment you need.

The doctor might have done a "reduction" to put your bone back into place. They might have then put "packing material" in your nose to help stop bleeding. You might also have a splint to hold your nose in place. Some nose fractures need treatment with surgery.

How long it will take to heal depends on the type of fracture. Most take weeks to heal.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also do the following:

●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment as instructed. You might need to see a plastic surgeon or an ear, nose, and throat ("ENT") specialist.

●Do not remove the packing material or splint until you are told to.

●Take all your medicines as instructed:

•Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain and swelling, such as ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve). If you cannot take these, you can take acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) for pain.

•If you got a prescription for stronger pain medicines to take for a short time, follow the instructions carefully.

●Keep your head raised, even when sleeping. This might help lessen pain and swelling.

●If you were told, try to avoid blowing your nose or sniffing while you are healing.

●Ice can help with pain and swelling. Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel over your nose. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Use for the first 24 to 48 hours after an injury.

●Quit smoking, if you smoke. Your doctor or nurse can help. Broken bones take longer to heal if you smoke.

●Follow all the doctor's instructions about what activities are safe to do. You might have to limit activity or movement until your bone is healed. Increase your activity slowly.

When should I get emergency help?

●Return to the ED if:

•Your nose bleeds a lot, or clear fluid leaks from your nose.

•You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or a bad headache.

•You have problems seeing or moving your eye.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for advice if:

●The pain or swelling gets worse.

●You still have bad pain even after taking pain medicines.

●You have trouble breathing.

●You have new or worsening symptoms.

More on this topic

Patient education: Nose fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Facial fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: Setting a broken bone in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Setting a broken bone in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgery to fix a broken bone (The Basics)