How Car Accident Injuries Can Require Surgery
While many injuries that occur as a result of a car crash can be treated with pain management and rehabilitation techniques, some require surgical procedures to help the victim recover. In 2020, around 2.26 million people were injured because of a car accident. Certain areas of the body are more prone to severe injuries if impacted during an accident.
Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
The immediate whiplash that occurs in a car accident could be strong enough for you to require back surgery that can be required to treat dislodged vertebrae, annular tears, broken tissue, and herniated discs. Keep in mind that some herniated discs don’t immediately cause symptoms. Over time, however, the issue could worsen, which is why surgery may eventually be needed.
The surgeon who performs these procedures should have ample experience with treating spinal cord injuries because of the damage that can be done if a mistake is made. If a complication occurs during surgery or the treatment isn’t obtained quickly enough, a loss of nerve function might occur. It’s also possible for part or all of the body to experience paralysis. If you’ve been injured in an accident, our Allentown personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options and calculate potential damages.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
While there are many serious injuries that can develop in the immediate aftermath of a car accident, some of the worst injuries are ones that affect the brain, head, or neck areas. At the very least, your range of motion could deteriorate until the injury is tended to. When you’re in a car accident, you may immediately experience feelings of shock or confusion. It’s possible that these feelings are derived from an injury to your head or brain.
When brain damage isn’t properly treated, bleeding in the brain could occur. You might also lose some of your ability to function, which can result in emotional pain and suffering as well as additional trauma. Treating brain injuries and repairing skull fractures usually requires numerous types of surgical procedures. These procedures can also be administered to mitigate the issues and complications that result from a traumatic brain injury.
If the injury is severe, the placement of implants or plates around the injured area may be needed. In the event that you’ve been involved in an accident recently, you should first determine if you’ve experienced whiplash or a concussion because of the accident. If you did, you should also be on the lookout for other underlying symptoms that indicate more serious damage. These symptoms include persistent headaches, sudden mood changes, and confusion. You should think about getting medical treatment if these conditions worsen.
Soft Tissue Injuries
The muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your body can be damaged if you’ve experienced a soft tissue injury because of the car accident you were in. These injuries oftentimes heal without additional treatment if the symptoms are as minor as bruising and swelling. On the other hand, the damage that occurs may eventually become permanent if treatment isn’t provided.
An example of a soft tissue injury is a rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff is a series of tendons and muscles that surround your shoulder joint. During the impact from a car accident, the rotator cuff could be partially or completely torn, which might result in stiffness and extreme pain. In some cases, surgery is required.
Fractures and Broken Bones
Surgery is a regular requirement when attempting to stabilize a fracture in the event of a broken bone from a car accident. These bones will be kept in the correct position with a splint or cast. If the bone fracture is more severe and won’t heal after applying a cast, surgery may be needed. Rods, pins, or artificial joint devices might be placed in a person’s body during this type of surgery.
Shoulder and Knee Injuries
Following a car accident, two of the more common locations for injuries are the shoulder and knee areas. For instance, the sudden impact could cause your knee to slam into the car’s dashboard. While these injuries might be able to heal on their own, surgery is often required to facilitate a speedier recovery. There are also times when ligaments will need to be reattached.
Injuries to Internal Organs
Immediate surgery should be obtained when you suffer from damage to one or more of your internal organs. Depending on the extent of the damage, internal bleeding could occur, which needs to be treated immediately to avoid further complications. However, internal bleeding can be difficult to identify, which is why you should be on the lookout for signs of unexplained injuries.
No matter the severity of your injuries, you can obtain legal assistance if you’re thinking of filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Call our Allentown personal injury lawyer today at (610) 435-7400 to ask any questions you might have about the process and start building your case.
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