Update Date: 06.06.2025
A broken nose, also called a nasal fracture, is a crack or break in one of the bones in the nose. Typically, the bone at the bridge of your nose is the one that breaks.
Common causes of a broken nose include contact sports, physical fights and falls. Motor vehicle accidents that injure the face also may cause a nose to break.
A broken nose can be painful and often causes a nosebleed. You may have swelling and bruising around your nose and under your eyes. Your nose may look crooked. And you may have trouble breathing through it.
Most broken noses don't require surgery. Treatment often involves procedures to realign the nose to help it heal properly.
Symptoms of a broken nose include:
Seek emergency medical care if you experience a nose injury along with any of the following symptoms:
Common causes of a broken nose include:
Any activity that increases the risk of injuries to the face can increase the risk of a broken nose. Such activities may include:
A broken nose can sometimes lead to other injuries or complications, including:
You can reduce the risk of a nose fracture by following these safety tips:
Your healthcare professional may press gently on your nose and the areas around it to check for pain, swelling and broken bones. Your healthcare professional also may look inside your nose to see if there's a blockage or other signs of injury.
You may be given numbing medicine to make the exam more comfortable.
X-rays and other imaging typically are not needed to diagnose a broken nose. But if the injury is serious, or if a full exam isn't possible, your healthcare professional may order a CT scan to check for broken bones or other injuries.
If the fracture is minor and your nose isn't crooked or misshapen, you may not need medical treatment. In many cases, using ice to lessen swelling and taking pain medicine you can buy without a prescription is enough to help you heal.
If the break has shifted the bones or cartilage in your nose, your healthcare professional may need to realign them. This procedure is called reduction. It needs to be done within 14 days of the injury, and preferably sooner for the best results.
To keep you comfortable during the procedure, you get numbing medicine. Typically, a healthcare professional can move the bones gently back into place by hand. Sometimes special tools may be needed to help realign the broken bones and cartilage.
After the procedure, your nose may need to be splinted to hold it in place while it heals. This can include:
Typically, the packing used for splinting stays in for about one week. The external dressing may stay on for up to two weeks.
You also may be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection, since the nose naturally has bacteria.
Serious breaks, multiple breaks or breaks that have gone untreated for more than 14 days may need surgery. Surgery can realign the bones and, if needed, reshape the nose.
The nasal septum is the middle part of your nose that divides your nostrils. If the injury damaged that area, you may feel like your nose is blocked or constantly stuffy. Surgery may be needed to reconstruct your nose to improve your breathing and correct the damage.
If you think you may have broken your nose, take these steps right away to lessen pain and swelling:
If your injury is serious, you won't have time to prepare for your appointment because you'll need to seek medical attention right away.
If the injury to your nose is less serious and you have only swelling and moderate pain, you may choose to wait before seeking care. This allows time for the swelling to lessen, making it easier to evaluate the injury.
If your symptoms don't start to improve, it's best to see a healthcare professional within 3 to 5 days of the injury. Get medical help right away if:
When you make an appointment, you typically start by seeing your primary healthcare professional. Depending on your injury, you may be referred to a specialist in conditions of the ear, nose and throat.
Preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time with your healthcare professional. For a broken nose, here are some basic questions to ask:
Your healthcare professional may ask:
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