Motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of many different types of catastrophic injuries. People can suffer brain injuries or damage their spinal cords during a car crash. Car wrecks are also one of the top causes of amputations in the United States. Medical amputations that occur as an intentional treatment choice, and traumatic amputations occur due to extreme injury.
Currently, the leading cause of amputation relates to untreated medical symptoms. Those dealing with uncontrolled diabetes, for example, are at elevated risk of medical amputation. Car crashes may not cause as many amputations as diabetes does, but they are still a leading cause of both types of amputations in the United States.
How crashes cause traumatic amputations
Discussions of amputations often focus on traumatic injuries. Severe damage to the body can occur during a crash and cause the immediate amputation of a limb or extremity. Scenarios involving someone with an arm out the window at the time of a crash, for example, could very well lead to a traumatic injury that causes an immediate amputation. Traumatic amputations are somewhat rare but do occur in severe car wrecks.
How crashes cause surgical amputations
As previously noted, untreated health issues are the top cause of medical amputations in the United States. However, severe injuries from car crashes are another top reason for surgical amputation. A surgical amputation involves medical professionals deciding that the removal of a damaged body part is the best solution given the circumstances.
Car crashes often involve crushing injuries which may necessitate an amputation. A body part crushed by the force of a crash may have such extreme damage that surgical treatment is simply unrealistic. A bone broken into dozens of tiny pieces, for example, may never heal despite repeated treatment.
Those recovering from a crash-related amputation can expect numerous medical challenges. They are at risk of infection and must adjust to the functional limitations caused by losing a body part. They could very likely require rehabilitative support and ongoing pain management. There are also frequently mental health challenges associated with car crash amputations.
Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit is often necessary when a collision results in catastrophic injuries, like amputations that will significantly impact someone’s health and earning potential.