Learning Radiology xray montage
 
 
 
 
 

Fracture of the Nasal Bone



 

General Considerations

  • Most common facial bone fracture (40% of facial bone fractures)
  • Usually from direct blow during athletics, motor vehicle collision or an altercation; sometimes fall
  • Males more common
  • There may be associated fractures of the anterior maxillary spine, blow-out fractures of the orbit or fractures of the nasal septum

Normal anatomy of the nasal bones

Clinical Findings

  • Deformity of the nose
  • Swelling
  • Ecchymosis
  • Epistaxis

Imaging Findings

  • Nasal fractures may not be evident on plain films
  • One suture line should normally be visible at the nasofrontal suture
  • Otherwise, there should be no lucencies that traverse the nasal bones perpendicular to its long axis
  • There may be lucencies that are normally seen that traverse the nasal bones longitudinally
  • CT provides the best means of identifying facial fractures

Treatment

  • Nasal packing
  • Closed reduction
  • Surgical reduction

 nasal bone fracture

 

 Fracture of the Nasal Bone. There is a transverse fracture of the nasal bone (white arrow). The longitudinal line (yellow arrow) does not represent a fracture.

 

 

 

nasal bone fracture

 

 Fracture of the Nasal Bone. Enhanced lateral radiograph shows a transverse fracture of the nasal bone (white arrow). There is also an associated fracture of the anterior nasal spine (red arrow).

 

 

Management of Acute Nasal Fractures. CJ. Kucik and J Phelan. Am Fam Physician. 2004 Oct 1;70(7):1315-1320.