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Introduction to Fractured Bones Sustained in Auto Accidents
One of the most common injuries to arise out of a car accident is a broken bone. The shock of the crash might hurt your back; your elbow might crash through the window, or fingers might break on the dashboard when trying to brace for the impact. Of course, accidents happen but what occurs after that is crucial to the victim's recovery. After years of representing victims of car accidents with broken bones, we compiled this information in response to your likely questions following an incident like what kind and amount of recovery are possible.
Broken Bone Injuries
Many people break their bones in various circumstances including sports, work, entertainment, accidents, etc. However, knowing the kind of bone break you suffered in a car accident is important to gauge its severity. Here is a list of the most common kinds of bone fractures:
- Open/Compound: With this bone fracture, the bone actually pierces the skin. The skin rupture is critically important to the victim's well-being because the tear exposes the affected area to infections.
- Closed/Simple: Closed bone fractures involve a break in the bone but no skin rupture.
- Non-Displaced: In a non-displaced fracture, the bone does not completely break and maintains proper alignment to facilitate efficient healing.
- Displaced: Displaced fractures occur when the bone breaks in a fashion where it is not properly aligned following the incident. It also might be broken into several pieces (known as a comminuted fracture).
- Avulsion: Avulsion fractures occur when a small piece of a bone tears off from the rest of the segment.
- Stress: Stress fractures are small, hairline breaks in the bones that regularly occur in the foot or leg.
- Greenstick: This break most often occurs with undeveloped bones, and generally happens when the bone bends and breaks.
- Pathologic: Pathologic fractures happen when an underlying disease weakens the bone and then subsequently causes it to break.
- Buckled: Buckled fractures occur when two bones smash into each other and cause displacement. This is often found in young children with developing bones.
- Oblique: Oblique fractures have an angled pattern and occur after a sharp pressure has been applied to the bone.
- Transverse: Transverse fractures run perpendicularly to the bone and usually result from one traumatic shock or long-term stress.
Further Bone Injury Resources
Here are some resources to help you understand what recovery might be possible if you have a broken bone following a car accident:
