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Nose Injury and Injured Skin

A cut or puncture in your skin may occur if you break your nose. The bone may come through the skin. Skin bacteria can enter at the site of a cut or puncture and lead to a serious infection, such as:

  • A skin infection (cellulitis).
  • A pus-filled pocket (abscess) just under the skin surface or deep in tissue.
  • A bone infection (osteomyelitis).
  • A sinus infection caused by injury (post-traumatic sinusitis).
  • An infection of the membranes covering the brain (meningitis).

Prompt treatment of an infection can prevent complications.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Revised March 22, 2011

Last Revised: March 22, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

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