A broken nose is a crack or fracture of the bony portion of the nose caused by trauma or a blow to the nose or face from such events as a sports injury, personal fights or domestic violence, and motor-vehicle accidents. Signs of a broken nose include tenderness when touching the nose, swelling of the nose or face, bruising of the nose or black eyes, a nose that appears deformed or crooked, nosebleed, a crunching or crackling sound or sensation when touching the nose similar to the sound that you make when you rub hair between two fingers, and pain and difficulty exhaling through the nostrils.

First Aid for a Broken Nose

Follow the steps below if you suspect a broken nose:

• Apply an ice pack to the nose immediately for about fifteen minutes at a time and repeat multiple times throughout the day and for one to two days following the injury, to reduce pain and swelling. Make sure to take breaks between cold-pack applications, and never apply the ice directly to the skin.

• OTC pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be taken as required and as directed to reduce pain. Avoid aspirin because it may increase the chance of bleeding and swelling.

• OTC nasal decongestants may help to aid in breathing through the nostrils.

• Sleep with the head of your bed elevated to help with swelling of the nose.

Call the doctor if:

• The pain or swelling doesn't go away in three days

• Your nose looks crooked

• You are not able to breathe through the nose after the swelling has gone down

• You have a fever

• You begin to have frequent nosebleeds

• You feel that you have any injury that requires medical attention

Go to an emergency department immediately if:

• You have bleeding that you can't easily get under control

• You have clear fluid draining from the nose

• You have any other injuries to the face or the body

• You were knocked out

• You experience severe headaches that aren't relieved by OTC medication

• You are vomiting repeatedly

• You have a decrease or change in vision

• You have any neck pain

• You have numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms

• You have severe pain in your nose