Alternate Names: Saddle nose; Absent nasal bridge

Considerations:

Growth failure of the nasal bridge can occur in association with infectious disease or genetic disease. A low nasal bridge or absent nasal bridge is a relative term of appearance based on a "normal" nasal bridge. Decrease in height of the nasal bridge is best seen from a side view of the face. A low nasal bridge may be almost flush with the plane of the face, the eyes, or the forehead. Note: most newborn and young infants normally have a relatively flat nasal bridge. The above described condition is an accentuation of that.

Common Causes:

• congenital syphilis
• Down’s syndrome
• cleidocranial dysostosis
• Williams syndrome
• osteogenesis imperfecta
• Hurler syndrome
• Pfeiffer syndrome
• ectodermal dysplasia

Home Care: No home care is necessary.

Call If:

• you notice that your child’s nose appears abnormally flat. However, if a serious disorder is present, other earlier symptoms have usually occurred that have required the attention of your health care provider.

What To Expect:

A child with a disease-related low nasal bridge generally has other symptoms and signs that, when taken together, define a specific syndrome or condition. The specific diagnosis is based on a family history, medical history, and thorough physical evaluation.

Medical history questions documenting low nasal bridge in detail may include:

• What other physical abnormalities are also present?

Diagnostic tests:
Laboratory studies such as chromosome studies, enzyme assays (blood tests to measure specific enzyme levels), X-rays, and metabolic studies may be ordered to confirm the presence of a suspected disorder.