How long does a fractured nasal bone take to heal?
A broken nose usually heals on its own within 3 weeks. Get medical help if it's not getting better or your nose has changed shape.
In the acute period, within about two weeks from the injury, most nasal fractures can be reduced in a closed fashion, but after this period, closed osteotomies or even a formal open rhinoplasty may be required for definitive management.
Manual realignment
In some cases, health care providers can push the nose back in place with their fingers. Sometimes, they may need to use special tools to help realign the broken bones and cartilage. Your nose may be splinted with packing on the inside and a dressing on the outside.
If left untreated, nasal fractures can not only lead to long-term cosmetic problems (crooked nose), it can lead to breathing problems caused by nasal obstruction and/or collapse.
Despite one misconception, there is no evidence that a bone that breaks will heal to be stronger than it was before.
If the fracture is straight and minor and there is no deviation of the nose, surgery is not required and the bones will heal in-situ.
Your nose may look crooked, and you may have trouble breathing through it. Treatment for a broken nose may include procedures that realign your nose. Surgery usually isn't necessary.
Opinions differ regarding the proper timing for closed reduction of isolated nasal bone fractures. In those cases where patients present within 6 hours of trauma, nasal fractures should be reduced immediately–before significant swelling sets in.
Can a nasal fracture heal on its own? A broken nose can heal on its own in just a few weeks. But if your nose heals before a healthcare provider realigns it, then you could have permanent complications, such as permanent deformity or difficulty breathing.
A broken nose, also called a nasal fracture, is a break or crack in a bone in your nose — often the bone over the bridge of your nose. Common causes of a broken nose include contact sports, physical fights, falls and motor vehicle accidents that result in injuries to the face.
What do you do for a fractured nose?
For simple breaks, in which the nasal bone is not crooked, the provider may tell you to take pain medicine and nasal decongestants, and to put ice on the injury. To keep pain and swelling down: Rest. Try to keep away from any activity where you could bump your nose.
The nasal bone is among the most frequently broken facial bone due to all types of trauma and is the most frequently fractured facial bone due to motor vehicle collisions.
Six weeks after your procedure, the cartilage and bones in your nose will be fully settled. At this time, there will be no restrictions on the exercise you can perform.