Soft tissue swelling develops promptly and may obscure the break. Diagnosis and Treatment A fracture should be suspected if blunt injury causes bleeding from the nose. The most common deformity is deviation of the dorsum to one side and depression of the nasal bone and ascending process of the maxilla on the other side. The position of the nose may be stabilized with internal packing and external splinting. Septal hematomas must be immediately incised and drained to prevent infection and cartilage necrosis.
Septal fractures are difficult to hold in position and often require septal surgery later.
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