The force of a car crash can easily break bones in the human body. Although many people with broken bones make a full recovery, some fractures are far worse than others. The easiest fractures to treat involve a single break in the bone.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to sustain a simple, stable fracture. Frequently, the fractures caused by car crashes are particularly severe. In some cases, people may acquire spiral fractures. Also known as a torsion fracture, a spiral fracture can be very difficult to treat and can have long-term implications for an individual’s health and overall quality of life.
Why are spiral fractures such a serious medical challenge?
The bone breaks repeatedly.
The force applied to cause a spiral fracture is typically a twisting force. The movement of the affected body part due to the twisting force causes a number of irregularly-shaped bone fragments. Spiral fractures are a type of comminuted fracture. They involve the bone breaking into multiple pieces and usually require surgery to treat.
Spiral fractures can be a challenge for medical professionals to set, as it can be difficult to determine the appropriate position of the broken bone. People may require implanted support, such as a rod, to help the broken bone heal.
They may never make a full recovery. They may notice a decrease in functional capabilities or lingering pain symptoms. The cost of surgery and the lasting consequences of spiral fractures make them very costly for people to address after a car crash.
Seeking appropriate compensation for severe injuries may require either an insurance claim or a lawsuit depending on the circumstances. People dealing with the financial aftermath of a spiral fracture may need support as they look into potential sources of compensation, and that’s okay.