Addressing Nose Trauma through Rhinoplasty
The most common bones to get fractured in the head are those in the nasal cavity. This is because they are very delicate. A nasal fracture can result from a fall, fights, or injury. Such an injury leads to nose trauma. The fracture varies in severity, and if the patient’s skin is not bleeding, he or she can breathe normally, and the nasal bones are in their right position, meaning surgery is unnecessary. Otherwise, the patient might require rhinoplasty to correct the injury and make breathing possible again.
A broken nose can heal completely in two to three weeks while cases that don’t end up in troubled breathing and deformity can be taken care of at home. Normally, a fractured nose is accompanied by swelling. Patients are usually advised to elevate their head while using ice packs to minimize it. Over-the-counter medicines can also be taken to help with the discomfort. In case the fracture leads to a deformed nose, the patient will require rhinoplasty to correct it.
Common Nose Injuries
There are no two similar nose injuries. Each has to be treated differently according to the damage caused. The patient has to address nasal trauma according to individual needs. There are different nasal injuries, including:
Breakage
If the bone or nose cartilage is broken, the patient will experience swelling and intense pain, which is usually followed by severe bruising. In case it is not treated, the nose ends up crooked or with a hump.
Airway Blockage and Restrictions
In some cases, the nasal damage can affect the inner, functioning parts of the nose. If there is a change in the airway as a result of an injury, it might lead to breathing problems, infections like sinusitis, and in some cases, sleep apnea.
Blood Clots
An injury might cause a blood clot to form behind the nasal septum, which is cartilage that keeps the airways separate. In case the clot is left untreated, it might lead to the collapse or perforation of the area. This may lead a deformity known as saddle nose.
Repeated damage
This is a common occurrence in people who do contact sports since their noses are constantly in the harm’s way. It can also happen to people who are exposed to repeated incidences of domestic violence.
Patients who have suffered the above injuries can prevent further damage by acting swiftly. After the nasal trauma, they should go for rhinoplasty in a few days and not later than several weeks. If the nose is left damaged for a long time, reversing the crookedness, humps, or bumps and correcting breathing problems can be done through a rhinoplasty. The patient should get in touch with a plastic surgeon to discuss their injuries and structural problems.
What is Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty nose surgery is the plastic surgery performed on a nose to correct it. It can either be functional or cosmetic and in some cases, both. The former is meant to restore the functionality of the nose after the damage while the latter is for enhancing the patient’s looks. Repairing a nose fracture is a type of functional rhinoplasty that is also known as reconstructive plastic surgery.
The surgeons use different rhinoplasty techniques. These are meant to straighten the nasal septum, rearrange bones, and cartilage and strengthen its support or reduce a bump. The steps involved depend on how extensive the nasal fracture is and whether you have any more aesthetic goals.
What is a Deviated Nasal Septum?
The septum is a plate built of bone and cartilage that divides the nasal cavity into two. The septum is normally straight. In case it becomes bent or crooked, it is described as deviated. This is a normal occurrence in a fractured nose. A deviated septum may cause labored breathing, increased risks of infection, and congestion in the nose. This is one of the most common reasons for a rhinoplasty.
Why Should You Fix Nasal Damage?
Even though your nose may appear to have no bumps and later heal itself, there are different reasons why you should go for rhinoplasty. In addition to the crookedness, there are other complications that might result from a broken nose, which rhinoplasty can avert. The victim’s nose can change in size or shape. It might also become crooked or bent and develop a bump too. Sustaining multiple nose injuries in childhood might leave you with breathing difficulties, a deviated septum, and infections like sinusitis.
In case of poor healing, a patient may suffer from internal infections around the sinus cavities and facial bones. Nasal damage can result in serious and deadly infections if not treated promptly.
Who is the Right Candidate?
To go for a reparative rhinoplasty, the patient must have sustained nasal damage. Any person who has had a blow to the face that left them swollen and with a bruised nose qualifies as a candidate. It is possible to suffer nasal damage and not know about it right away. This is why people are advised to seek medical attention if they suffer any facial injury. They should have their noses examined by a qualified doctor to determine the extent of the injury and what steps to take next. If need be, they are advised to go for rhinoplasty.
If a person notices a change in their breathing and looks in terms of its shape, a corrective surgery might be necessary. Find a qualified rhinoplasty surgeon to discuss the available options.
The Procedure
This surgery usually lasts for approximately 1 to 2 hours and can be carried out in a surgeon’s facility using general anesthesia. The incisions may vary according to the type of rhinoplasty. If the surgeon is doing an open rhinoplasty, he makes the incisions inside the nostrils and another small one under the tip of the nose. In case a closed rhinoplasty is required, the incisions are only made inside the nostrils.
During the procedure, the surgeon lifts the nose’s skin to see the bone and cartilage that need to be sculpted. After the nose has been restored, the skin gets stitched over, and the incisions are closed.
Why Go for Dr. Joseph Rucker?
Dr. Rucker M.D is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. With a medical degree from the Michigan State University and several years residency in general and plastic surgery, Dr. Rucker is very skilled in this field. He has been in private practice in west central Wisconsin for decades and has carried out thousands of reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. Visit his website at https://www.ruckermd.com for more information.