Sports and roughhousing can easily lead to a nose being accidentally smashed. A sudden impact to the nose is the most common way to break it. Everyone is at some small risk for a broken nose. Certain activities increase the risk for a broken nose, especially contact sports such as football, basketball, soccer, hockey, boxing, and martial arts. Wearing proper protective gear during sports is very important and can help to mitigate risk of injuries.
Symptoms of a broken nose include:
- A crooked or bent nose
- Pain in and/or around the nose
- Bleeding from the nose
- Grating or grinding feeling or sound when pinching or moving the nose
If you experience any of the following symptoms, it’s important to seek medical care right away:
- Nose is crooked or bent (don’t try to straighten it on your own)
- Heavy bleeding from the nose that won’t stop
- Difficulty breathing
- Clear fluid from the nose
To diagnose a broken nose, your doctor or ear, nose, and throat specialist will look and feel the nose and face. If there’s a large amount of swelling, your doctor may ask you to return in a day or two to better diagnose the condition. If additional facial injuries are suspected, your doctor may recommend an x-ray or CT scan to take a look at facial bones.
