Fractures or broken bones are among the most common car crash injuries. The extreme force involved in a collision can easily break bones in the human body. Even strong bones not prone to fractures in other scenarios can break instantly during a crash.
Many people assume that they should be able to recover quickly with minimal costs after a broken bone. After all, modern healthcare professionals can very easily diagnose and treat the majority of fractures. However, some broken bones are far more serious than others.
Occasionally, people with fractures face catastrophic consequences. They may have major medical expenses and might struggle to continue working. The three examples below are all scenarios in which a broken bone is serious enough to constitute a catastrophic injury.
Open fractures
An open or compound fracture is a terrifying injury. The jagged edges of the bone tear through the nearby tissue. The bone actually rips the skin. The sight of a bone can make people queasy or panicked. The injured person may experience pain so intense that they struggle to remain conscious. They may also lose a dangerous amount of blood immediately after their injury. Beyond that, they are at risk of severe infection. Open or compound fractures often require surgical intervention to clean the wound to diminish the risk of infection and to properly set the bone.
Comminuted fractures
A comminuted fracture occurs when the bone breaks into many, small pieces. Spiral fractures are one well-known form of comminuted fracture. The force of a crash could exert twisting energy on an arm or leg. The bone may then break in a twisting or spiral pattern. Such fractures typically require surgery because doctors need to reinforce the damaged bone. Those with comminuted fractures may find that they have long-term functional limitations because they never fully regain their strength or range of motion after treatment.
Crush-related fractures
Manufacturers design vehicles to crumple in a way that preserves human life. However, the crushing of a vehicle might also lead to the crushing of someone’s limbs or extremities. Crush injuries often produce comminuted fractures with many small pieces of bone. Additionally, the crush injury can cause extensive damage to the musculature, nerves and vascular tissue near the injured bone. Recovering from such injuries can be incredibly difficult. In some cases, doctors decide to perform a medical amputation because they cannot fully treat the injured body part.
Understanding that fractures from car crashes can actually be catastrophic injuries can help people avoid common mistakes in the wake of sustaining one. Instead of quickly settling an insurance claim, they may need to look into all of their options for maximum compensation. They may require far more treatment than people with simple fractures, and they may result in lasting career consequences as well. Holding a driver accountable for causing catastrophic injuries may sometimes require civil litigation after a wreck.