Broken bones are one of the most common types of injuries sustained in accidents, from car crashes to slips and falls. Not only are these injuries painful and slow to heal, but they could also cause you to miss out on your full wages as you recover.
If you’ve suffered a fracture because of another party’s negligent or wrongful actions, you should strongly consider filing a claim for compensation. A personal injury claim can help you recover economic and non-economic damages to address your medical expenses, missed income, and emotional and physical distress.
Bone fractures tend to be categorized by their break patterns. The following are a few of the varieties of fractures most frequently treated in emergency rooms.
Transverse Fractures
Transverse fractures are clean breaks that form in a straight line across the bone. They’re almost always the result of trauma. Some victims only need a splint for the bone to heal, but others might require surgery. That’s especially likely if you suffer a displaced fracture, which involves a piece of bone shifting enough to create a gap.
One of the deciding factors in whether you’ll need surgery is whether the wound is open or closed. Open fractures expose the victim to a higher risk of infection because the bone has broken through the skin.
Oblique Fractures
Oblique fractures occur when a bone breaks at an angle across its long axis. In some cases, the edges can be sharp enough to cause tissue damage. Oblique fractures are also usually the result of traumatic mishaps, such as motorcycle accidents and other catastrophic events.
Oblique fractures require the affected bone to be immobilized. If the broken pieces haven’t shifted too far from each other, there may be no need for invasive procedures. If they’re misaligned, you might need a closed reduction, which involves a physician manipulating the affected part of the body to realign the bone. In the most severe cases, surgery is necessary.
Spiral Fractures
Spiral fractures are produced when rotational force puts enough pressure on the bone to cause it to break. In these cases, the trajectory of the break wraps around the bone like a corkscrew. This happens most often in long bones.
If the break is mild, immobilization via a splint or cast may be an option. Closed reductions are the next treatment step, followed by internal or external fixations.
Even after surgery, you’ll still need to keep the area immobilized. Never subject the affected area to weight or stress without first talking to your doctor.
Comminuted Fractures
Comminuted fractures are one of the most serious types of breaks. They happen when a bone fragments into three or more pieces. As you might imagine, these fractures take a long time to heal, especially if they’re open breaks.
Comminuted fractures require surgery so that all of the pieces can be aligned correctly. In some instances, external fixation may also be necessary. This procedure stabilizes the fracture while it heals. Your surgeon may try this option before turning to more involved surgical procedures.
If the bone is severely displaced, you’ll likely need a bone graft. The new bone tissue can then be used to patch up the injury.
Segmental Fractures
Segmental fractures are characterized by two breaks in the same bone, which leaves a middle segment that isn’t connected to anything. These fractures most commonly affect the long bones, and high-energy impacts are typically to blame.
Treating segmental fractures almost always requires surgery to align and secure the broken pieces. Surgeons may implant metal rods to hold the segments together.
The healing process for this type of injury is lengthy. One reason for this is that the “floating” bone segment will have poor blood flow, making it harder for oxygen and nutrients to reach the site of the break.
Contact the San Bernardino Personal Injury Lawyers at Kenny Ramirez Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you’ve fractured one or more bones in an accident, you may be able to receive compensation to cover your medical expenses and lost wages, as well as other qualifying losses you’ve incurred. Having a trustworthy legal team on your side is the best way to improve your chances of getting the financial support you need.
The skilled attorneys at Kenny Ramirez Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers bring years of experience to the table. We offer personalized guidance to address our clients’ unique needs throughout every step of the legal process. Whether your fracture is relatively minor or is expected to take months to heal, we’ll be there to stand by you the whole time.
Schedule a free consultation today to discuss your case with an experienced San Bernardino personal injury attorney.
Kenny Ramirez Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers
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