A broken nose, also called a nasal fracture or nose fracture, is a break or crack in the bone or cartilage of nose. These breaks typically occur over the bridge of the nose or in the septum, which is the area that divides nostrils.

A sudden impact to nose is the most common cause of a break. Broken noses often occur with other facial or neck injuries. Common causes of broken noses include:

• walking into a wall
• falling down
• getting hit in the nose during a contact sport
• motor vehicle accidents
• getting punched or kicked in the nose

Symptoms 

• pain in or around nose
• a bent or crooked nose
• a swollen nose or swelling around nose, which can cause  nose to look bent or crooked even if it’s not broken
• bleeding from your nose
• a stuffy nose that won’t drain, which can mean your nasal passages are blocked
• bruising around nose and eyes, which usually disappears after two or three days
• a rubbing or grating sound or feeling when move nose

Risk Factor

Accidents can happen to anyone, so everyone has a risk of experiencing a broken nose at some point in their lives. Certain activities, however, can increase risk of a nasal fracture.

People who participate in most contact sports are at increased risk for a broken nose. Some contact sports include:

• basketball
• boxing
• football
• hockey
• martial arts
• soccer

Other activities that can put at risk include:

• being involved in a physical altercation
• riding in a motor vehicle, especially if you don’t wear a seat belt
• riding a bicycle
• skiing and snowboarding

Diagnosis

 X-ray

 CT scan

Prevention

• Wear shoes with good traction to prevent falls.
• During contact sports, wear protective face gear to prevent injuries to nose.
• Wear a helmet when riding a bike, operating a motorcycle, skateboarding, skiing, or snowboarding.
• Wear seatbelt while riding in a motor vehicle, and make sure children are properly restrained.

First aid at home

• If nose is bleeding, sit down and lean forward while breathing through mouth. This way, the blood doesn’t drain down throat.
• If there is no bleeding, elevate the head to reduce throbbing pain.
• To reduce swelling, apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a washcloth to nose for 15 to 20 minutes, three or four times a day.

It’s ideal if facial trauma is evaluated immediately to fully assess the extent of injuries. People often don’t realize all of the structures that can be affected by facial injury and a broken nose. It’s easier to fix a broken or fractured nose within one to two weeks of the injury. After an injury to nose.