Many fractures do not need to be repaired but just need time to heal. Your healthcare provider may recommend light activity, particularly avoiding any activity that could result in a facial injury for about six weeks while the nose heals. You must be very careful during this time that your nose it not bumped or hit.
The bone will be reset only if there is obviously physical deformity, or the fracture is interfering with breathing. If the bone does need to be reset there are a couple of options depending on the situation. In some cases, the bones can be reset in the healthcare provider’s office with a local anesthetic. The bones are then held in place with a cast which remains in place for about a week.
There are some serious complications in the case of broken noses. A septal hematoma (a blood-filled abscess) may form (most often within 24-48 hours of the injury) and if it is not drained in a timely manner can result in tissue death and actually cause the nose to collapse.
Sometimes surgery is necessary to repair these types of problems, in order to reset the bone or repair a deviated septum.