In the article, we will 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. Nasal fractures are the most common in children. In some cases, this may be due to parental oversight. 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 left untreated, the bones of the nose can grow together in the wrong position, which will cause various complications, including respiratory function.
Description of injury
Due to its location on the face, the nose is the most prominent part of it. It is for this reason that when a person is struck or bruised, the nose suffers the most. The bones and cartilage of a child are in the formation stage, so the likelihood of breaking his nose is much greater than that of an adult. Brokenthe nose will not only cause physical suffering to the child, but can also lead to psychological problems.
Parents need to be able to distinguish the signs of a broken nose in children from a bruise, as the treatment is different in each case. A bruise is accompanied by pain, however, with a fracture, it can become more pronounced and becomes unbearable. Some time after a bruise, the pain loses its intensity, while it can increase with a fracture.
A fracture makes it impossible for the child to breathe through the nose, while against the background of a bruise, breathing becomes difficult, but does not stop completely.
What to do if the nose does not breathe? More on that below.
Parents should be aware of the symptoms of a fracture in order to provide first aid to the child and prevent further complications. 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 breathing problems.
Reasons
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 ossification process starts later. As you get older, the chance of a broken nose increases significantly for a variety of reasons, including:
- Falling even from a small height, such as from a bed.
- Falling from swings or slides while walking in the playground.
- Sloppy communicationwith toys.
- During sports, a side impact is possible, resulting in a fracture.
- When falling face down while running.
- After an accident.
Parents need to protect their child's environment, especially younger children. Heavy and blunt objects with which the child can hit himself in the face should be removed. Doors need to be closed as tightly as possible, and on cabinets you can bandage the handles with special protective interlocks. 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 detect a fracture after an injury, you need to carefully examine the child. The symptoms and their severity depend on the intensity of the blow and the anatomical features of the structure of the nose. Large and fleshy noses are more prone to injury. Children with neat little noses usually do not complain of any signs of a fracture after an injury.
The following symptoms indicate a broken nose:
- Nosebleeds in children. The reason for this is often a fracture. It is both internal and external. With an external one, we can talk about an open fracture of the nasal bone. Bleeding of the internal type can occur against the background of any injury to the nose, which is due to hypersensitivity of the capillaries and mucous membranes. The causes of nosebleeds in children should be investigated by a doctor.
- Pain syndrome. The child may complain of soreness in the nose, does nottouch the injured area. Palpation can aggravate pain. If the child is too small to complain about the pain, he will scream and cry. Some children with a low pain threshold may pass out from the shock.
- Bruises and bruises around the eyes are also indicative of a broken nose. In addition, the mucous membranes of the nose swell, thereby making it difficult for the child to breathe. Severe nasal congestion occurs.
- Deformation of the nasal septum, which becomes noticeable only after the swelling has been eliminated.
- After a car accident or a fall from a height, in addition to a broken nose, a child may be diagnosed with a concussion, which in turn is accompanied by dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
- 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 first aid to a child in such a situation. To do this, you need to follow a number of simple recommendations:
- The bruised area should be cooled with an ice pack or a wet cold towel.
- To stop bleeding from the nose, you can insert a swab soaked in a saline solution into the nasal passage. Sodium chloride has vasoconstrictive properties. It is impossible at the same time to lay the child on his back and throw back his head. Important notallow blood to enter the throat.
- If possible, treat the wound with an antiseptic or anesthetic spray.
- If symptoms suggestive of a concussion appear after an injury, do not self-deliver him to the hospital. Better call an ambulance.
- If there are no signs of a concussion, you can take the child to the nearest hospital for admission.
You cannot leave a child alone after an injury, there must be an adult next to him. It is also forbidden to blow your nose if you suspect a fracture, as vascular tension can provoke re-bleeding.
How to set the nose, we will tell at the end of the article.
Diagnosis
When parents bring a child with a suspected broken nose to the hospital, the initial examination is performed by a traumatologist. If the fracture is characterized as open, a surgeon and a pediatric otolaryngologist are additionally called. To clarify the diagnosis, computed tomography is performed, as well as x-rays in three projections. Based on the images obtained, the diagnosis is clarified and appropriate treatment is prescribed.
Therapy
The therapeutic scheme is selected taking into account the condition of the child and the nature of the injuries received. Standard measures for a fracture are:
- Tampons are inserted into the nasal cavity. This is to stop bleeding and keep displaced bones and cartilage in optimal position.
- If the parents managed to stop the bleeding earlier, but the fracture went unnoticed, the surgeon willforced to re-break the fused bones for their subsequent installation in the desired position. The procedure is done under local anesthesia.
- During the treatment period, the patient is prescribed nasal instillation with drops with a vasoconstrictive effect, as well as painkillers. Swelling and pain stop after five days of therapy.
- 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 the installation of special metal plates is required. The operation to correct the septum of the nose is simple, it is performed very often.
- Bandaging in progress for several weeks.
Permanent nasal congestion
If the nose fracture was not diagnosed in time and the restoration of bone and cartilage tissues occurred with a curvature, the child may complain of constant congestion, as well as loss of smell. In addition, then there is asymmetry of the nose. In this case, surgery is indicated to correct the nasal septum.
Let's look at the main types of surgical intervention.
How is the nose set?
Mainly one of two types of operations are used: submucosal resection or sparing minimally invasive endoscopic septoplasty.
Submucosal resection is the oldest method of septal surgery. In the anterior part of the septum, an arcuate incision of the mucous membrane is made, the cartilage is cut, separated from the perichondrium and mucous membrane, andalmost completely removed. Only the upper part of the cartilage up to 1.5 cm wide is left. Then the bone septum is removed with a hammer and chisel. What is left of the septum is brought together and fixed with tampons for fusion. Stitches are usually not required.
Sparing 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, areas of deformity are identified, only curved areas are removed through small incisions in the mucous membrane.
Consequences
Prognosis for a fracture depends on timely therapeutic measures taken, as well as on the severity of the injury. If left untreated, the bones and cartilage in the nose will grow together incorrectly, resulting in severe deformity and curvature.
When the treatment and straightening of the nasal septum were carried out on time and were chosen correctly, in the vast majority of cases it is possible to restore the functions and shape of the organ. The only exceptions are particularly difficult cases, when a slight deformity remains after the treatment.
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 fully restore breathing after one month. During the rehabilitation period, the child should be regularly examined by a pediatrician, which will allow timely detection of complications and stop them. At the final stageexperts recommend undergoing a full examination, which will help make sure that the tissues are properly fused.
Rehab
During the rehabilitation period, parents need to carefully monitor the condition of the child, as well as keep his activity under control. This will help prevent new injuries and complications associated with them. An improperly fused nose can become a stumbling block for a 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 disorders in the circulatory system of the brain. In addition, a child with difficulty breathing is forced to constantly use vasoconstrictor drops, which, in turn, is harmful to the whole body.
Conclusion
Fracture of the nose 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 incorrect fusion of bones and cartilage. The nose is an important organ in the human body, so injury, including bruises and fractures, should be avoided.
