The incredible force involved in a car crash scenario can cause many types of injuries. When compared with brain or spinal cord injuries, broken bones may not seem that severe. While they are painful and cause functional limitations, fractures typically respond well to trauma care. People who receive appropriate medical treatments can fully recover after a broken bone in most cases.
Standard treatment for fractures includes diagnostic imaging followed by the application of a cast to immobilize the affected body parts. After the bone knits, health care professionals remove the cast. The individual with the broken bone may then need to complete physical therapy or other rehabilitation programs to improve their strength and range of motion.
Unfortunately, some fractures are far worse than others. In certain situations, a broken bone may require surgery. When is an operation potentially necessary to treat a broken bone?
When the break damages the growth plate
Children and teenagers still have growing bodies. In some cases, that means they heal faster from traumatic injuries. In other cases, it may mean they are at risk of secondary consequences. If a fracture damages the growth plate, children may be vulnerable to imbalanced physical development in the future. Surgery may be necessary to treat fractures that cause growth plate damage in young people.
When the fracture is severe
There are several types of severe fractures that typically require surgical intervention in adults. Some people sustain open or compound fractures. The force that breaks the bone is so powerful that it pushes the broken bone through the muscle and skin. Such fractures create major health risks. People lose quite a bit of blood and can develop deadly infections. Surgical care is typically necessary when setting an open fracture.
Comminuted fractures also typically require surgery. Comminuted fractures occur when the bone breaks into many tiny pieces. Spiral or torsion fractures are a type of comminuted fracture. Doctors often need to operate to set the bone and to apply artificial reinforcements, including plates, pins or rods, to help the body heal.
When a broken bone requires surgery, the cost of treating it increases substantially. The recovery time required also tends to increase. Those healing after a car crash fracture may need help calculating their losses and pursuing compensation, and that’s okay. Holding the driver at fault accountable for expenses can help those with injuries move on after a wreck.