Whether you’re an evasive counter striker or a cumbersome human punchbag, getting hit on the nose is inevitable. Below is all the advise you could ever need.
A bloody or broken nose is one of the classic injuries that people associate with combat sports. It’s highly likely at some point a professional MMA fighter will suffer a damaged or broken nose even illusive stars like Lyoto Machida have been tagged.
It is usually a result of an impact, either from an intentional strike, such as a punch or a knee to the face, or from an accidental collision such as a head butt from wrestling.
While a damaged nose isn’t necessarily life threatening, it is important to treat it to ensure there aren’t any future more serious issues that are not instantly apparent.
NOSE BLEEDS
The most common and visible result of trauma to the nose is a nosebleed. This is caused by damage to blood vessels inside the nose or higher up in the nasal cavity.
The best way to treat a nosebleed is to sit down, tilt the head slightly forward, and pinch the soft part of the nose just above the nostrils below the bone.
Avoid tipping the head backwards as, although it may appear to slow the bleeding, it risks blood running down the back of the throat which can cause nausea and vomiting.
Hold this for at least 10 minutes, even if you feel as though the bleeding has stopped sooner. Try to avoid sneezing, blowing your nose or training for 24 hours after the bleed to avoid it recurring.
If the bleeding is very heavy and it doesn’t stop after pinching the nose for 20 minutes, or if you have symptoms of head injury such as a sever headache, then seek medical help immediately.
If you get nosebleeds regularly then see your doctor.
Sometimes you might be referred for an operation to cauterize or tie off damaged blood vessels that are causing the bleeding.
BROKEN NOSES
Broken noses account for nearly half of all facial fractures. They may be very obvious with a visible deformity, or can be more subtle.
Signs that might suggest a broken nose include:
> Bruising around the nose or under the eyes
> Swelling
> Pain
> A crunching or crackling sound when touching the boney part of the nose
> Bleeding
> Difficulty breathing
While there’s no secret formula for dodging every punch thrown at you, there are ways to treat a broken nose.
Placing some ice wrapped in a damp cloth over the painful area for 10-15 minutes at a time can help to reduce pain and inflammation.
This should be repeated every few hours for two to three days after the injury. Propping your head up with pillows when you sleep may help to reduce swelling and make it easier to breathe.
If you suspect a broken nose, then it should be evaluated by a doctor to rule out a septal hematoma.
This is a bruise or bleeding within the cartilage of the nasal septum. If untreated, it can cause the cartilage to die and collapse, resulting in a deformity of the nose. The symptoms can closely resemble those of a broken nose, which is why an evaluation by a doctor is advisable following a nose injury. You should definitely see a doctor if:
> The nose is obviously crooked
> The pain and swelling is no better after three days
> You develop recurring nosebleeds
> Any other signs of a head or neck injury
However much pain you think you can take, if your nose is crooked or misshapen it’s not advisable to try to put it back into position yourself as this be more damaging. The recovery time will depend on how severe the break is, but in general you should avoid any sparring or contact (including wrestling) for at least four to six weeks, or as recommended by your doctor.
If there is a noticeable displacement then your doctor may suggest realigning the nose. It may not be possible to do this immediately because of the swelling so you may be asked to return about a week later.
For a simple break “closed reduction” is often possible, this is where the nose is simply maneuvered back into place. For a more complicated fracture, or if closed reduction has failed, then surgery may be needed to realign the bones.
For the most severe injuries a “reconstruction” may be undertaken. In this case, bone grafts may be taken from another part of the body to repair the damaged part of the nose.
DEVIATED SEPTUM
The nasal septum is the cartilage that lies in between the two nostrils. This can be displaced to one side by a blow to the nose, and often happens at the same time as a nasal fracture. It is common to have a small displacement, but when it is severe it can block one side of the nose and make it difficult to breathe.
It can also increase the likelihood of nosebleeds and sinus infections.
When treating a deviated septum your doctor may suggest managing the problem by using decongestants, antihistamines and/or nasal sprays to reduce inflammation and congestion.
If the symptoms are particularly troublesome then you may need an operation called a septoplasty which repositions the septum in the center of the nose. Sometimes this is performed at the same time as an operation to reshape the nose itself (rhinoplasty).
WHEN DOC NOSE BEST
If you have any of the following symptoms, then seek immediate medical advice.
> Bleeding from the nose that you cannot stop after a few minutes
> Clear fluid draining from the nose
> Loss of consciousness
> Vomiting
> Fever
> Neck pain
> Severe or unrelenting headaches
> Change or decrease in vision, or double vision
FAMOUS UFC CASES
1) Rich Franklin
Anderson Silva gave Rich Franklin one of the most memorable broken noses in the sport during their first fight at UFC 64.
Franklin later revealed this had resulted in a deviated septum and that he had needed surgery to correct the problem. He remarked in an interview he may require a similar operation again once he retires as a fighter.
2) Brandon Vera
Vera recently suffered a nasty broken nose in his fight against Thiago Silva at UFC 125 (main pic) which was widely reported to need surgery. This will be the second time that Vera has had surgery for facial injuries sustained in a fight.
3) Joe Rogan
UFC commentator Joe Rogan had surgery for a deviated septum that he’d had since childhood. He has even posted a video on YouTube describing his experience!
...
