Signs of a broken nose in children. First aid and treatment for a broken nose

In the article, we consider the main signs of a nose fracture in children.

Boys and girls are sometimes very mobile and full of energy. This explains the large number of injuries and bruises in childhood. Nose fracture in children is most common. In some cases, this may be due to oversight of the parents. It is important to recognize the signs of a nose fracture in children in a timely manner and take the necessary measures by contacting a traumatologist. If untreated, the nasal bones can grow together in the wrong position, which will cause various complications, including respiratory function.

Injury description

Due to its location on the face, the nose is its most prominent part. It is for this reason that when a face is struck or bruised, the nose suffers the most. The bones and cartilage of the child are in the formation stage, so the probability of breaking his nose is much greater than that of an adult. A broken nose will not only cause physical suffering for the child, but can also lead to psychological problems.

Parents need to be able to distinguish the signs of a nose fracture in children from a bruise, since the treatment in each case is different. The bruise is accompanied by pain, but with a fracture it can become more pronounced and becomes unbearable. Some time after a bruise, the pain loses its intensity, while during a fracture it can increase.

Fracture deprives the child of the opportunity to breathe through the nose, while against the background of a bruise, breathing is difficult, but not completely stopped.

What to do if the nose does not breathe? About it below.

Parents should be aware of the symptoms of the fracture in order to provide the child with first aid and to prevent complications in the future. In advanced cases, a fracture can provoke tissue death and cause asymmetric changes in the face. Improperly fused cartilage can distort the nasal septum and cause respiratory failure.

Causes

A child immediately after birth and before reaching the age of three does not always injure his nose when falling. This is due to the fact that cartilage at this age is covered with a protective layer of muscles. The process of ossification begins later. At an older age, the likelihood of a nose fracture increases significantly for a variety of reasons, including:

1. Falling even from a small height, for example, from a bed.
2. Fall from a swing or slide while walking on the playground.
3. Inaccurate communication with toys.
4. During sports, a side impact is possible, which will entail a fracture.
5. When falling face down while running.
6. After the accident.

Parents need to protect the environment of the child, especially young children. Heavy and dull objects should be removed with which the child can hit himself in the face. Doors need to be closed as tightly as possible, and on the cabinets, handles can be bandaged with special protective locks. During sports, it is important to avoid side impacts.

Symptoms of this pathology

So, what are the signs of a broken nose in children? To identify a fracture after injury, you need to carefully examine the child. The manifested symptoms and their severity depend on the intensity of the stroke and the anatomical features of the structure of the nose. Large and fleshy noses are more prone to injury. Children with neat little noses, as a rule, do not complain of any signs of a fracture after an injury.

The following symptoms are distinguished, indicating the presence of a broken nose:

1. Bleeding from the nose in children. The reason for this is often a fracture. It happens both internal and external. With external, we can talk about an open fracture of the nasal bone. Bleeding of the internal type can occur against the background of any nasal trauma, which is due to hypersensitivity of capillaries and mucous membranes. The causes of nosebleeds in children should be determined by the doctor.
2. Pain syndrome. The child may complain of soreness in the nose, does not allow to touch the bruised place. Palpation can increase pain. If the child is too small to complain of pain, he will scream and cry. Some children with a low pain threshold may lose consciousness from the shock.
3. Bruising and bruising in the eye area also indicate a broken nose. In addition, the mucous membranes of the nose swell, thereby making it difficult for the child to breathe. There is severe nasal congestion.
4. Deformation of the nasal septum, which becomes noticeable only after the elimination of puffiness.
5. After a car accident or a fall from a height, in addition to a broken nose, a child may be diagnosed with concussion, which in turn is accompanied by dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
6. Increased lacrimation and abnormal mobility of the nasal septum.

Most often, the signs of a fracture are pronounced, they are specific, and the pathology is quite easily diagnosed.

First aid

Parents need to know not only the symptoms of a broken nose, but also be able to provide the child with first aid in this situation. To do this, you need to follow a series of simple recommendations:

1. The bruised area must be cooled with a compress of ice or a wet cold towel.
2. To stop nosebleeds, you can insert a swab dipped in a salt solution into the nasal passage. Sodium chloride has vasoconstrictor properties. You can’t lay the child on his back and throw his head back. It is important to prevent blood from entering the throat.
3. If possible, wounds can be treated with an antiseptic or anesthetic spray.
4. If symptoms of concussion are identified after the injury, you should not take it to the hospital on your own. Better call an ambulance.
5. In the absence of signs of concussion, you can take the child to hospitalization at the nearest hospital.

You can not leave the child after an injury alone, an adult should be next to him. It is also forbidden to blow your nose if you suspect a fracture, since vascular tension can provoke repeated bleeding.

How to adjust the nose, we will tell at the end of the article.

Diagnostics

When parents deliver a child with a suspected nose fracture to the hospital, an initial examination is carried out by a traumatologist. If the fracture is characterized as open, the surgeon and pediatric otolaryngologist are additionally called. To clarify the diagnosis, computed tomography is performed, as well as an x-ray in three projections. Based on the images obtained, the diagnosis is specified and appropriate treatment is prescribed.

Therapy

The therapeutic regimen is selected taking into account the condition of the child and the nature of the injuries received. Standard measures for a fracture are:

1. Tampons are inserted into the nasal cavity. This is necessary to stop bleeding and maintain displaced bones and cartilage in an optimal position.
2. If the parents managed to stop the bleeding earlier, but the fracture went unnoticed, the surgeon will be forced to re-fracture the fused bones for their subsequent installation in the desired position. The procedure is done under local anesthesia.
3. During the treatment period, the patient is prescribed instillation of the nose with drops with a vasoconstrictor effect, as well as painkillers. Edema and pain stop after five days of therapy.
4. If the fracture is severe, surgical treatment is performed, which involves straightening the nasal septum and fixing the nasal septum in the desired position. Sometimes installation of special metal plates is required. The operation to correct the nasal septum is simple, it is performed very often.
5. For several weeks, bandaging is carried out.

Persistent nasal congestion

If the nose fracture was not diagnosed in time and the restoration of bone and cartilage tissue occurred with a curvature, the child may complain of constant congestion, as well as loss of smell. In addition, then asymmetry of the nose occurs. In this case, an operation is indicated to correct the nasal septum.

Below we consider the main types of surgical intervention.

How to adjust the nose?

Basically, one of two types of operations is used: submucosal resection or sparing minimally invasive endoscopic septoplasty.

Submucosal resection is the oldest method of surgical intervention on the septum. In the anterior part of the septum, an arcuate incision of the mucosa is performed, the cartilage is cut, separated from the perichondrium and the mucous membrane and almost completely removed. Only the upper part of the cartilage with a width of up to 1.5 cm is left. Then the bone septum is removed with a hammer and a chisel. What remains of the septum is brought together and tampons are fixed for adhesion. Sutures usually do not overlap.

Gentle endoscopic septoplasty is considered a more modern operation on the nasal septum. An intranasal endoscope is used, with its help, a thorough revision of the nasal cavity is carried out, deformity areas are revealed, only curved sections are removed through small incisions of the mucous membrane.

Effects

The prognosis for a fracture depends on timely therapeutic measures, as well as on the severity of the injury. If untreated, the bones and cartilage in the nose will not grow together correctly, which will entail severe deformation and curvature.

When the treatment and rectification of the nasal septum was carried out on time and were selected correctly, in the vast majority of cases it is possible to restore the function and shape of the organ. The exception is only particularly difficult cases when, after treatment, a slight deformation remains.

It should be borne in mind that in childhood, the fusion of cartilage and bones occurs faster than in adults. With the timely start of treatment, it will be possible to completely restore breathing after one month. During the rehabilitation period, the child should be regularly examined by a pediatrician, which will allow time to detect complications and stop them. At the final stage, experts recommend a full examination, which will help to verify the correct fusion of tissues.

Rehabilitation

During the rehabilitation period, parents need to carefully monitor the condition of the child, as well as to control his activity. This will help prevent new injuries and complications associated with them. An incorrectly fused nose can become a stumbling block for the child’s self-esteem in the future, leading to the development of complexes and self-doubt. In addition to the psychological component, the physical condition of the child, whose breathing is constantly difficult, also plays a significant role. The body does not receive enough oxygen, which leads to disturbances in the circulatory system of the brain. In addition, a child with difficulty breathing is forced to constantly use vasoconstrictive drops, which, in turn, is harmful to the whole body.

Conclusion

Nose fracture is an unpleasant phenomenon and requires increased attention to the patient's condition. The most important thing is to diagnose the pathology in time and prevent the incorrect fusion of bones and cartilage. The nose is an important organ in the human body, so injury should be avoided, including bruises and fractures.