Differential Diagnosis for Nose Bleeds after Hitting Face with Ball

• Single Most Likely Diagnosis
  • Traumatic Epistaxis: This is the most likely diagnosis given the direct trauma to the face. The impact from the ball could have caused damage to the delicate blood vessels inside the nose, leading to bleeding.
• Other Likely Diagnoses
  • Nasal Septal Hematoma: A collection of blood in the nasal septum can occur after trauma, which may cause nasal obstruction and further complicate the bleeding.
  • Fracture of the Nasal Septum or Turbinate Bones: The force of the ball hitting the face could also result in fractures of the nasal structures, which might contribute to the bleeding.
• Do Not Miss Diagnoses
  • Basilar Skull Fracture: Although less common, a basilar skull fracture is a serious condition that could occur from significant facial trauma. It might present with nasal bleeding, among other symptoms like cerebrospinal fluid leakage.
  • Cerebral Vascular Injury: Direct trauma to the face could potentially cause injuries to cerebral blood vessels, leading to more severe complications like subarachnoid hemorrhage.
• Rare Diagnoses
  • Bleeding Disorder: An underlying bleeding disorder could exacerbate the bleeding from the trauma. While rare, it's an important consideration, especially if the bleeding is unusually heavy or prolonged.
  • Tumor or Vascular Malformation: Pre-existing conditions like nasal tumors or vascular malformations could also be a source of bleeding, especially if the trauma was minor. However, these would be less likely without prior symptoms.