Some swelling is normal after a nose injury, and your nose may look crooked. Home treatment can often help reduce swelling.

Medical evaluation is needed after a nose injury if:

• You have a cut or puncture in the skin over a possible broken nose. Bacteria can enter at the site of a cut or puncture and cause a serious infection.
• You have a large amount of blood in the nasal septum (nasal septal hematoma).
• Your nose is severely moved out of its normal position.
• You have persistent drainage from one or both nostrils. This may be caused by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) draining from the brain into the nose (CSF rhinorrhea) and can occur after a head injury or after surgery on the nose or ears.
• You have a nosebleed you cannot stop (epistaxis).