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Nasal fracture (acute)

Nasal fracture (acute)

Emergency and immediate referrals

Referral to Emergency Department

If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergency medical advice if in a remote region:

  • Acute nasal fracture requiring surgical intervention
  • Acute nasal fracture with septal haematoma
  • Severe or persistent epistaxis
  • Associated neurological symptoms

Immediately contact on-call registrar or service to arrange an immediate ENT assessment (seen within 7 days) for:

  • Acute nasal fracture requiring surgical intervention i.e. external bone displacement (best results for acute nasal fracture are achieved within 2 weeks from time of injury)

To contact the relevant service, please see HealthPathways: Acute ENT Assessment

Presenting issues
  • Nasal fracture (acute)
Mandatory referral information (referral will be returned if this information is not included)

  • Mechanism of injury

If unable to attach reports, please include relevant information/findings in the body of the referral

Referrer to state reason if not able to include mandatory information in referral (e.g. patient unable to access test due to geographical location or financial cost)
Highly desirable referral information
  • Current medication list including anticoagulant medication
Indicative triage category
Indicative triage category
Category 1
Appointment within 30 days
  • Acute nasal fracture requiring surgical intervention i.e. external bone displacement (best results for acute nasal fracture are achieved within 2 weeks from time of injury)
    Mark urgent on referral for CRS to allocate as a priority
Category 2
Appointment within 90 days
  • No defined category 2 criteria
Category 3
Appointment within 365 days
  • No defined category 3 criteria
Last reviewed: 02-10-2023
wa.gov.au