A paediatric nasal fracture is a break or crack in the nasal bones or cartilage of a child, commonly caused by falls, sports, or car crashes. Symptoms include nosebleeds, swelling, bruising, and a crooked shape. Initial care involves ice and pain relief, with specialist follow-up needed in 3 to 5 days.
Common Signs and Symptoms
- Nosebleed that stops with direct pressure
- Swelling around the nose and eyes
- Bruising or black eyes
- Pain or tenderness when touched
- Crooked or misaligned nose shape
- Trouble breathing through the nostrils
Immediate First Aid at Home
- Apply a cold compress or ice pack to the nose for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day.
- Keep the child’s head elevated, including while sleeping, to lower swelling.
- Use pain relief as advised by your doctor, pharmacist or emergency-care team. Avoid aspirin in children unless specifically prescribed.
- Pinch the soft part of the nose for 10 straight minutes if a nosebleed occurs
When to Seek Urgent Medical Care
Go to the emergency room right away if your child has:
- A large or continuous nosebleed that will not stop
- Clear watery fluid draining from the nose after significant facial or head trauma
- A soft, swollen bulge inside the nostril (a septal hematoma, which needs urgent draining to prevent lasting cartilage damage)
- Severe head injury signs like extreme sleepiness, vomiting, or confusion
Specialist ENT review is recommended in 3-5 days. Some untreated or displaced nasal fractures can lead to persistent changes in nasal shape or breathing.
Paediatric ENT assessment may include examination of the nose and nasal airway. Depending on the injury and clinical findings, further investigations such as fibreoptic endoscopy or CT imaging may sometimes be considered.
If the nasal bones are displaced or the injury is affecting nasal function, reduction or other treatment may be considered after specialist assessment. Timing depends on the injury, swelling and individual clinical circumstances.
The surgery, if required, will be a day procedure under a light general anaesthetic with a specialist paediatric anaesthetist. Dr Braham has operated on more than 400 fractured noses and is very experienced at achieving the best functional and cosmetic outcome possible. Masada hospital is perfectly set up for children and you can come into theatre with your child for the procedure which will take approximately 45 minutes. Your child will be discharged home after a few hours. Your child will have a light skin coloured dressing on their nose that you will need to try to keep dry for a week and you can gently peel it off after the week.
The surgery is very safe and is intended to get the best cosmetic and breathing outcome for your child. Like all broken bones, it will take 6 weeks to fully heal, and further trauma needs to be avoided as much as possible in that time.
Further Reading
- Read more about Broken Nose Melbourne
- Read more about Septal Hematoma
- Read more about Children’s ENT Surgery
- Read more about Fibreoptic Endoscopy for Children
- Read more about CT Scan for Nose / Sinus Assessment
- Read Patient Resources Recovery after ENT Surgery
