A nose fracture is the most common type of fracture on the face--in fact, 40 percent of all facial fractures are attributed to broken noses, according to the OhioHealth website. A broken nose or a fracture can occur from cases such as physical fights or falls, with contact sports or from traffic accidents. A broken nose typically hurts, bleeds and swells. Signs and symptoms of a broken nose may appear immediately or they may take up to three days to show, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Swelling and Pain
If your nose is broken, you will have pain and swelling over the nose or in the surrounding area. The bridge of the nose will be tender to the touch and you may wince with pain if anyone touches or brushes the area.
Nose Block
You may have difficulty breathing if you have a broken nose, and one or both of your nostrils may feel blocked due to the bones or cartilage being out of place. Swelling and clotted blood may also add to any obstruction in your nose.
Bleeding
If your nose is broken, your nose may bleed and you may see mucus discharge from the nose. This happens due to tears or disruption in the mucous membrane lining the nose. You will likely also have bruising around the nose and under your eyes. Blood can spread under the skin and into the underlying tissues of the eyes and cheeks. This will cause discoloration around the nose as well as black eyes.
Crooked Nose
With a fracture of the nose, your nose will probably change shape. It may look crooked or twisted, according to Ohio Health. This might not become apparent until swelling over the nose subsides, which might take a few days. Your doctor will feel for any irregularity in the shape of your nose to diagnose the fracture. Upon touch, you might hear a crunching or grating sound coming from the nose. This rough sensation is the broken bones moving against one another; it signifies a nasal fracture.
Hematoma
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a fracture of the nose bones can lead to separation in the partition between your nasal passages. This requires immediate medical care, as blood could collect in that area. If this problem is not taken care of, it can result in death of the cartilage and a sagging or obvious collapse of the nose bridge. If this occurs, you will have complete nose block. This septal hematoma presents as a bulge on either side of the septum.
