Nasal bone fracture and its sequelae, our experience in a tertiary care hospital

Background and aims: The most frequent type of facial bone fracture is a nasal bone fracture. The nose is the facial feature that anatomically protrudes the most and, hence, is more vulnerable to physical trauma. It accounts for almost half of the facial fracture cases. Physical assault, road traffic accidents, falls, and some idiopathic causes are most frequently linked to nasal fractures. Nasal bone fractures may result in deformity, septal deviation, or nasal obstruction. The present study aims to study the pattern of nasal bone fracture, its manifestations and outcomes among patients attending a tertiary care hospital. Methods: The present retrospective study was done for one year, from January 2022 to January 2023. A total of 280 cases were recorded. Diagnosis was made based on clinical examination and radiological investigation. All collected data was analysed using SPSS v.20 and Epi Info 2000. Results: The most involved age group was 21-30, with a male-to-female ratio 1.7. Road traffic accidents comprised 53.6% of cases. Nearly 82.1% of cases had undisplaced fractures. About 230 cases were managed conservatively, of which 21.7% resulted in malunion. Conclusion: Nasal bone fracture is an unavoidable circumstance following trauma. Road traffic accidents and physical assault are the most common causes of nasal bone fracture. Although most undisplaced fractures can be managed conservatively, they are not free from adverse outcomes. Hence, Early detection and skilful management are necessary for achieving aesthetic outcomes.

Keywords: Nasal bone; Trauma; Jaraway fracture; Chevallet fracture.