Certain injuries caused by motor vehicle collisions are more debilitating than others. Most people can bounce back relatively quickly after a soft tissue injury or a broken bone. Many broken bones or fractures respond well to modern trauma care.
With the right interventions and adequate rest, most patients can expect to make a full recovery from broken bones and fractures. However, not everyone is so fortunate. Some people get fractures from car crashes that prove far more debilitating than others.
A broken bone can potentially cause long-term financial and medical issues for the injured person. What are some of the possible outcomes after a broken bone that can be more expensive than a full recovery?
1. An acquired nervous system disorder
Sometimes, traumatic injuries damage more than the affected body parts. They may cause damage to the nearby nerves. In such cases, people may develop permanent medical consequences after an injury that should have led to a full medical recovery.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can develop in cases involving broken bones. Even after the initial injury heals, people with CRPS may notice new or worsening pain symptoms. They may notice functional limitations related to their strength and range of motion. Their condition may slowly worsen over time and may make it prohibitively difficult for them to care for themselves or work.
2. A crush injury that requires amputation
Some fractures are far more serious than others. They may not respond to the traditional medical interventions intended to treat the injured body part. Crush injuries and other severe fractures can cause such extensive damage that medical professionals cannot effectively treat the injury.
The body part may never fully recover because of the damage to connective tissue, nerves and musculature. In some cases, healthcare professionals determine that the best treatment for these fractures is amputation. People hurt in a car crash may lose a limb because of the severity of the damage.
3. A severe fracture that requires surgery
Most broken bones require X-rays for diagnosis, bone setting and then possibly physical therapy. When the fracture is particularly severe, health care professionals may need to operate to treat the injury. It is common practice after an open fracture where the bone pushes through the skin or a comminuted fracture where the bone breaks into many pieces to operate as part of the trauma care.
Surgical operations drastically increase the overall cost of correcting a fracture. They also increase the likelihood that patients may have lingering symptoms later. People who require surgical treatment of fractures forever have functional limitations that affect their employment opportunities, for example.
Before settling a car crash insurance claim, it is important to understand that certain injuries can cost more than people expect. Broken bones can often lead to far more in lost wages and medical expenses than people initially anticipate.
