Usually the diagnosis of a nasal fracture is readily made from the patient's history and physical examination. The use of X-rays, however, is valuable and strongly recommended in every case. Its importance as a permanent record—whether positive or negative—is unquestioned in cases of litigation. Roentgenograms are useful in delineating the nature of the fracture pathology and are prerequisite to satisfactory therapy.
Roentgen examination for the diagnosis of nasal fractures routinely includes the right and left laterals, the A-P Water's, and, in some cases, the occlusal view. A paucity of literature referable to this latter view led to a recent study which elicited its immense value.
Diagnosis
The clinical diagnosis of a nasal fracture can be made with little difficulty. Any case of nasal trauma followed by epistaxis should be suspected as a possible nasal fracture. The presence of a nasal deformity which was not previously manifested confirms this diagnosis. The