You’ve likely heard that no two situations are alike. That’s particularly the case when it comes to the injuries individuals suffer in car accidents. While some individuals may walk away unscathed from a car crash, others may suffer blunt force trauma, spinal cord or crush injuries.
Compartment syndrome is one of the more serious injuries that a motorist can suffer in a car accident.
What is compartment syndrome?
Traumatic accidents may result in fractures, something that can cause a person’s muscles to begin bleeding. The increase in blood pressure along a portion of the muscle compartment may decrease blood supply elsewhere, causing potential nerve damage.
Some of the earliest signs a person might be suffering from compartment syndrome are if they experience severe pain, reduced range of motion or numbness along a particular portion of their body. Patients with an acute case of compartment syndrome may also note muscle loss, kidney failure and infection.
How do doctors treat compartment syndrome?
Doctors may initially recommend that a patient suffering from compartment syndrome ice and elevate their affected limbs.
While surgery is uncommon for treating this condition, there are some instances in which doctors perform a fasciotomy to cut the muscle compartment open to reduce the pressure necessary to restore blood flow. This most commonly happens in acute cases. Nerve or muscle damage can result if doctors don’t release the pressure in the compartment. Doctors may need to perform an amputation in some rare instances.
Addressing liability issues following an accident
Car crashes are one of many ways in which someone may end up suffering from compartment syndrome. Treating such a medical condition can be quite involved and thus costly. You may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses if you can prove that another motorist’s negligence resulted in your injuries. An attorney can help you understand liability issues before you decide whether to file an insurance claim.