Acute nasal trauma: emergency room care of 250 patients.

The completeness of the Emergency Room evaluation of the injured nose was determined by reviewing 250 cases of acute nasal injury. A recorded examination of intranasal structures was found for only 42 (21 percent) of 200 patients with blunt nasal trauma. In another group of 50 patients with roentgenographically documented nasal fractures, only 21 (42 percent) had a recorded intranasal examination. Failure to examine the internal nose thoroughly will leave undiagnosed such serious pathologic conditions as septal hematomas, mucosal tears, and fractures and dislocations of the bony and cartilaginous septum, which may cause permanent functional disturbances (nasal airway obstruction) and cosmetic deformities.