Nasal Trauma Flashcards
1
Q
how did it happen?
A
history
- mechanism of injury - fight, sport, falls
- when
- LOC
- epistaxis
- breathing
2
Q
how does it present?
A
bruising, swelling tenderness deviation epistaxis infraorbital sensation central nervous symptoms
3
Q
how is it investigated?
A
exclude a septal haematoma - they need to be referred immediately
4
Q
how is nasal fracture investigated and treated?
A
diagnosis clinical - investigations are superfluous
based on deviation/ cosmesis
breathing
review in ENT clinic 5-7 days post-injury
consider digital manipulation in < 3 weeks
5
Q
what are the potential complications of nasal trauma?
A
epistaxis - particular ant. ethmoid artery
CSF leak - meningitis
Anosmia - cribiform plate fracture
6
Q
what is a CSF leak?
A
often spontaneously settle - need repair if not settled in 10 days
site of fracture might be the cribiform plate
role of antibiotics not clear - ascending infection
