Suspected broken nose (nasal fracture)
You have been assessed by staff in the Emergency Department or Minor Injury and Illnesses Unit for an injury to your nose. This page gives you information about how to examine your nose and seek further medical attention if needed. In most cases, your nose will heal on its own, usually within 3 weeks. However, if you are concerned about the appearance of your nose, a procedure may be needed to straighten it.
What happens next?
- On day 7 after your injury, in front of a mirror, examine your nose from the bridge to the tip.
- If your nose appears straight or unchanged, then no further treatment is necessary. To check, you could compare your appearance now with previous photographs.
- If your nose appears bent or crooked, contact the ENT Outpatient Department the next working day after your self-examination. The contact details are at the end of this page.
Your ENT appointment
You will be given the date and time of your appointment when you contact the ENT Outpatient Department. The appointment will most likely be on a Friday morning at the ENT Outpatient Department (first floor), Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. This appointment should take place within 10 days of your injury.
On the day of the appointment:
- You may eat and drink as normal before attending for your ENT appointment.
- A doctor will examine your nose. If a procedure to improve the appearance of your nose is appropriate, it will be performed on the same day under local anaesthesia (your nose will be numbed).
- The procedure will take no longer than 20 minutes and you will be able to go home afterwards.
Patients under 16 years old may require a general anaesthesia so that they will be asleep during the procedure. This means that the procedure may be scheduled for another day. If a general anaesthesia is needed, the doctor will discuss this in more detail during your appointment. Fasting instructions will also be given. You will be contacted by the booking team with a date for the procedure.
If you have a blocked nose
If your nose looks straight but feels blocked, this could indicate a septal hematoma. This is a collection of blood beneath the skin of the cartilage between your nostrils.
You must seek urgent medical attention if you experience:
- Increasing pain with nasal blockage in both nostrils
- Swelling of your nasal septum (wall between your nostrils)
- Fever
For nasal blockages without the above symptoms, you can try rinsing your nose with saline nasal washes. This will help to clear any blood clots and improve your breathing. Nasal washes can be bought over the counter at your local pharmacy.
If breathing difficulties continue for more than 3 months, contact your GP for a referral to the ENT department.
Contact information
ENT Outpatient Department
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NN
Tel: 0300 422 8549
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm (excluding bank holidays)
Further information
If you have any concerns following your nasal injury, please contact your GP or NHS 111 (telephone 111) for advice.