Analysis of nasal fracture management and subsequent surgical outcomes across demographics.

Abstract

Nasal bone fractures are the most common type of facial injury and can pose significant long-term challenges if not diagnosed and treated correctly at the time of presentation, including, but not limited to, septal hematoma, infection, epistaxis, persistent nasal deformity, nasolacrimal injury, deviated septum, and even mental health issues as serious as post-traumatic stress disorder as persistent complications. Optimal management remains controversial and subjective based on the clinician’s judgment, with many factors playing a role in the provider’s decision, including the timing of treatment, the choice between foregoing treatment or choosing to undergo a closed or open reduction, and how to manage subsequent revision surgeries if necessary.