Accidents occur every day and can lead to different types of fractures. A broken bone may heal within a few weeks or even months, depending on the severity of the fracture. The injured person could face several surgeries, a long recovery that involves physical therapy and medications, intense pain, the loss of use of a limb, or even amputation if there are more severe bone breaks.
Discuss your case and legal rights as soon as you can with an experienced auto accident lawyer.
Which Bone Fractures Are Most Common?
A broken arm, ankle, or toe for most is a childhood. These fractures usually do not involve high-impact injuries and heal within a few months. Broken bones can happen in a variety of situations. Depending on the type, location, time, and how it was broken, they can be serious injuries.
The number of bone fractures in serious auto accidents is likely to be low. Broken bones can be the most serious outcome of a fall. If a broken bone does not heal properly, it can lead to a serious infection known as Osteomyelitis, which could require the amputation of a limb.
Accident victims may suffer serious injuries including bone fractures. It is important to consider all possible losses before settling your injury claim if you have suffered a bone fracture due to another’s negligence.
Types Of Bone Fractures
As you might imagine, the severity a fracture depends on how much force is applied, the strength, and the direction of the bones.
Here are some of the most common fractures.
- Greenstick fracture: When the bone is broken slightly as a result of being bent.
- Stable Fracture: The ends of the bone are still aligned, even though it is broken.
- Open/Compound fracture: When the broken bone fractures penetrate through the skin during the incident.
- When the bones fracture horizontally, this is called a transverse fracture.
- Buckle Fracture: When the ends of broken bones are driven together.
- When the bones fracture at an angle.
- Comminuted fracture: When the bone breaks into three or more pieces.
Open fractures can be dangerous because they are the most severe types of fractures. The bone is completely severed and penetrates the skin, increasing the risk of infection. The high impact of car crashes is what causes these serious fractures.
It takes a strong force to completely sever a bone because bones are flexible and can bend. Comminuted fractures can also be seen following a high-impact car crash, as it takes a lot of energy to break a bone up into pieces.
The most difficult fracture to treat is the type that requires multiple surgical interventions. A bone fracture in these serious auto accident injuries can be treated with more than a simple cast.
Complications of Leg Bone Fractures
Leg fractures are some of the hardest to heal, according to the some Clinic.
The following complications can result from a broken leg:
- Pain in the ankle or knee
- The limb may not heal completely due to a disruption in blood flow.
- Infection;
- Damage to the nerves and blood vessels;
- The condition known as compartment syndrome causes swelling and pain in the muscles around the bone.
- Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints.
- Uneven leg length can cause back pain.
Some of these complications may have serious consequences such as the loss of a limb’s use or even an amputation. Some patients choose to have their limbs amputated in order to relieve the pain caused by compartment syndrome. These complications may not show up until much later in the healing period, so you should always treat any bone fracture with seriousness.
If a child breaks their leg on the playground at school, it might not be obvious until they start to grow how unbalanced the leg length is. A person with unequal leg lengths can experience spine problems for the rest of their lives.
A fracture that extends into a joint or does not heal properly can lead to arthritis or osteoarthritis many years after the break. When determining the value of a personal injury claim that includes compensation for bone fractures and you are considering submitting an insurance claim, it’s important to take into account all possible complications.
This post was written by Kelly-Ann Jenkins of https://www.jenkinslawpl.com/. Kelly-Ann is an insurance claim Lawyer. The information on this site is not intended to and does not offer legal advice, legal recommendations, or legal representation on any matter. Hiring an attorney is an important decision, which should not be based on advertising. You need to consult an attorney for legal advice regarding your situation.
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