Nasal trauma is a common facial injury caused by internal and external factors. It comes with symptoms that can make breathing hard, eliminate your sense of smell, alter the shape of your nose, and leave it bloody.
While nasal trauma isn’t a life-threatening injury, noting its symptoms and treating it can save you from discomfort and pain. If you are suffering from nasal trauma, you’ll need help finding the best solution for your issue. In this post, we talked about the causes, symptoms, and treatment for nasal trauma.
Types of Nasal Trauma
There are a few types of nasal trauma, with each caused by different factors. Common types of nasal trauma include:
Fractures: can be caused by accidents
Nosebleeds: can be caused by accidents or inserting sharp objects into the nose
Chemical irritation or injuries to the inside of your nose: can be caused by inhaling toxic substances
Obstruction by a foreign object: can be caused by intentionally or unintentionally inserting objects into your nose
Nasal trauma often leads to nosebleeds, and this is because your nose consists of many blood vessels located close to the surface. Of course, a nosebleed isn’t the only symptom of nasal trauma—there are others. To treat nasal trauma, your doctor will need to determine your condition and symptoms before proffering a solution.
Common symptoms of nasal trauma?
How do you know you have nasal trauma? What are the signs to look out for? Earlier, we mentioned a common symptom (nosebleed). However, there are more. And symptoms of nasal trauma can vary from mild to severe, depending on the type and seriousness of your injury. Common symptoms of nasal trauma include:
- Loss of sense of smell
- Bruising around your eyes
- Distortion of the shape of your nose
- Clear fluid emanating from your nose
- Difficulty breathing through your nose
- Swelling of your face, especially around your nasal area
- Pain in and around your nose
Symptoms of nasal trauma can be treated with surgery, medication, or basic homecare. If you are experiencing severe nasal trauma, you’ll need the help of a rhinoplasty surgeon, Dr. Halaas, for correct diagnosis and treatment. Mild nasal trauma can be treated with medications or first aid.
What causes nasal trauma?
There are two types of nasal trauma: external and internal nasal trauma. Understanding the causes of each type of nasal trauma will help you in preventing it.. While external factors can cause external nasal trauma, internal nasal trauma can be caused by internal factors. Here are some of the causes of external nasal trauma:
- Falls
- Sport injuries
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Blow to the nose or other types of physical assault
That said, here are some common causes of internal nasal trauma:
- Infections resulting from nasal piercings
- Inhaling cocaine or other harmful drugs
- Inserting a foreign object inside your nose
- Picking or scratching the inside of your nose
Children fond of inserting foreign objects inside their noses often leave themselves prone to nasal trauma. If you or your kid is fond of such a habit, ensure you stop it.
Common Nasal Trauma Treatments
Nasal trauma can be treated with medication or surgery. In the case of medication, your doctor may recommend:
- Painkillers to reduce discomfort
- Antibiotics to treat infections
- Nasal sprays to lessen irritation
If you experience a severe nasal fracture, your doctor may recommend surgery to fix the issue. Your doctor may decide to carry out rhinoplasty to reshape your nose or use a method known as a nasal reduction to rearrange broken pieces of bone. In addition to medication and surgery, nasal trauma can also be treated with first aid and home care or cauterization or packing.
Conclusion
Injuries affecting any facial features need to be taken seriously regardless of whether it’s life-threatening or not. Since the nose is associated with breathing— an act that keeps you alive— we advise that you take the necessary steps to identify and treat nasal trauma. Ensure you contact your doctor if the need arises.