Acute nasal fracture
Outpatients | Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT)This condition is treated in the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic.
Pre-referral work-up
History
All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include:
- Note mechanism of injury
- Epistaxis
- Nasal obstruction
- Neurological sequelae
- Examination findings :
- Deviation of nasal bridge
- Septal haematoma
- Evidence of skull base fracture - CSF rhinorrhoea/otorrhoea, racoon eyes, battle's sign (bruising behind ear), cranial nerve signs
Tests
- Imaging is not indicated for simple nasal fractures unless co-existent fractures, intracranial injury suspected or high force mechanism of injury
- OPG if suspected jaw fracture
- CT if suspected facial fracture
Interim/GP management
To refer a patient with this condition, please see the ENT clinic page for the full referral process and templates.
- First aid measures including cool compress and pressure over nostrils to manage epistaxis
Direct link to Health Pathways - Nasal Fracture page
For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.
Clinic appointments
🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.
Emergency
🚩 If obvious new nasal bridge deviation or other signs listed in Examination section - refer same day to ED
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Urgent (Category 1)
🚩 If swelling predicating evaluation - refer ENT OPD in 5 days
Note: nasal fractures must be reduced 10 days for best results
Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to the Consultant/Registrar to organise urgent review and the referral must be faxed.
We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks, or sooner if clinically indicated.
Availability
North
Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics
Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227
North West
Unavailable.
See HealthPathways Tasmania for more information
South
Wellington Clinics
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9454
To contact the on-call ENT Registrar, phone the switchboard on 03 6166 8308.