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KidsCare Online

Nose Injury

Pain Medicine:
- Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed for pain relief.
- See dosage chart.
- Ask your pharmacist to recommend a pediatric brand containing either of these ingredients.
Bleeding: For superficial cuts or scrapes, apply direct pressure for 10 minutes with a sterile gauze to stop any bleeding.
Cleansing: Then wash the area with soap and water for 5 minutes. If a large area, apply an antibiotic ointment and cover with a Band-Aid for 1 day.
Nosebleeds: To stop a nose bleed, squeeze the soft parts of the nose against the center wall for 10 minutes to apply pressure to the bleeding point.
Concerns About Missing a Minor Nasal Fracture:
- A swollen nose usually is not broken.
- If it is broken, standard practice is to delay correction until the swelling is gone.
- The swelling interferes with diagnosis and treatment.
- X-rays are often not helpful because injuries to the cartilage do not show up (most of the nose is cartilage).
- Looking at the nose after the swelling is gone (day 5 to 7) is the best way to tell if it is really fractured. It will look crooked or different than it used to.
- Delayed correction also helps the surgeon better see what he is changing. In addition, it's safe to delay the treatment of a mild nasal fracture.
IF your child becomes worse: Review Should I Call? recommendations.