Broken bones or fractures are common after serious car crashes. People with fractures often make a full recovery, provided that they receive appropriate treatment and give their bodies adequate time to heal. Unfortunately, some fractures are serious enough to qualify as catastrophic injuries. Comminuted fractures are potentially devastating, as bones break into multiple small pieces.
What characteristics of comminuted fractures are serious enough to render them catastrophic injuries?
The costly treatment required
Doctors typically cannot set a comminuted fracture easily. They usually need to operate. In fact, they may need to implant devices to stabilize or strengthen the fractured bone, which may make a second surgery necessary later.
The timeline for treatment and recovery can be much longer than the eight to 12 weeks of recovery typically required for simple fractures. People may miss weeks of work, which can affect both their immediate income and their long-term earning potential.
The likelihood of lasting limitations
While many people with simple fractures regain full function and can use the body part without restrictions after recovering, comminuted fractures are different. The extent of the damage caused may lead to a permanent reduction in strength and challenges with regaining range of motion. The fracture could also damage nearby tissue, including nerves, which can cause chronic pain symptoms and other complications.
Individuals with comminuted fractures may find that their car crash expenses require more than a simple insurance claim. Reviewing catastrophic collision injuries with a skilled legal team can help people pursue compensation from appropriate parties.