The Forensic Medical Significance of Nasal Bone Fractures: A Clinical and Medico- Legal Retrospective Analysis

The Forensic Medical Significance of Nasal Bone Fractures

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate nasal bone fractures, the most frequently encountered injuries in maxillofacial trauma, from a forensic medicine perspective and to contribute to the objectivity of the medicolegal analysis of such cases.

Methods: A total of 205 patients with nasal bone fractures who presented to Çankırı State Hospital between 2022 and 2025 and were reported as forensic cases were retrospectively analyzed. Age, sex, etiology of trauma, fracture type, associated injuries, physical examination findings, and imaging methods used were evaluated. Data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistical methods.

Results: The prevalence of nasal fractures among forensic cases was 1.15%, and 82.9% of the patients were male. The most common etiological factor was assault (57.1%), followed by traffic accidents (33.7%). Of the fractures, 62% were displaced, 31.2% were linear, and 6.8% were comminuted/depressed; 92.2% were closed, and 7.8% were open. Open fractures were significantly more common during in-vehicle traffic accidents. Additional skeletal fractures were detected in 31.2% of cases. Computed tomography was the most frequently used imaging modality (63.4%).

Conclusion: Nasal fractures are more frequently observed in young adult males and are commonly associated with assault-related trauma. The presence of accompanying fractures reflects the severity of the trauma. These findings are expected to contribute to the standardization and objectivity of forensic medical evaluation processes.