Concerns About Missing a Minor Nasal Fracture

• A swollen nose usually is not broken
• If it is broken, standard practice is to delay correction until the swelling is gone
• The swelling interferes with diagnosis and treatment
• It's hard to diagnose a broken nose because of nasal swelling (most swollen noses have no fracture).
• X-rays are often not helpful because injuries to the cartilage do not show up (most of the nose is cartilage).
• Looking at the nose after the swelling is gone (day 5 to 7) is the best way to tell if it is really fractured. It will look crooked or different than it used to. Delayed correction also helps the surgeon better see what he is changing.
• In summary, it's safe to delay the treatment of a mild nasal fracture.