5 Common Hip Injuries in an Auto Accident
In automobile accidents, hips are sometimes prone to severe injuries. The crash or the resulting fall can break the hip bone or force the femoral head out of its joint. If the accident victim was already suffering from osteoporosis or any other congenital disability, the slightest trauma could leave the hip vulnerable in a car accident.
When a careless driver causes a car accident, and the other car has an elderly driver or passenger, those victims are more likely to suffer mobility issues and permanent injuries to the hip. It is recommended that you go to a doctor or an emergency unit right away after your accident to ensure your injuries can be treated in a timely and effective manner.
Here are five of the most common ways hips might sustain serious injuries during an auto accident.
1. Dislocation of Hips
When substantial force is applied to the bottom of a foot against a locked knee, a posterior hip dislocation can occur. During a car accident, many people slam their brakes to try to avoid the accident, and when they slam too hard, their knees get locked. So, when the car crashes into a vehicle, the front of the car can get crushed.
This can also lead the locked legs to crumble as well. This immense force then goes up the legs, toward the hip socket, and pushes the femur out of the back of the socket. This is known as posterior hip dislocation.
This kind of injury not only leaves the accident victims in excruciating pain but also renders them unable to walk. Posterior hip dislocation can damage many nerves in the leg and contribute to internal bleeding. If not treated right away, this injury can prove fatal.
2. Fracture or Broken Bones
A fall or a car accident can leave anyone with a broken hip. Elderly people, aged 65 and above are especially at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 300,000 elderly people are hospitalized for fractured hip every year.
When people get older, especially the ones with osteoporosis, their bones get weaker and brittle. As a result, even a minor car accident or slip-and-fall injury can have devastating consequences for them.
Hip fractures, if severe, can shorten one’s life span and significantly reduce their independence. Statistics show that nearly 50% of hip fracture patients are forced to live out the rest of their lives with someone else’s assistance.
Broken hip bones mean the patient has to remain in bed or in a fixed position for the bone to heal. This generally leads to various other health complications such as:
- Bedsores
- Pneumonia
- Blood clots in the lungs or legs
- Loss of muscle mass (which further weakens the bones)
- Urinary tract infection
The loss of muscle mass also increases the risk of further hip injuries and fractures.
3. Labral Tear
An injury to the labrum (the soft tissue covering the hip socket) is known as a hip labral tear. Patients describe it as a feeling like their hip is ‘locking up’ or a ‘clicking’ in the hip socket. A tear in the hip labral can occur during a car accident when the hip gets dislocated.
It can result in severe pain in the side of the hip, the groin, and the front of the hip. If the patient engages in activities like running or even walking, the pain can get worse.
Unfortunately, labral tear injuries often go undiagnosed because they can’t be seen with an MRI. The doctors must rely on their intuition and clinical judgment while diagnosing a labral tear.
4. Bursitis
An auto accident can also cause the patient to develop bursitis. Bursitis can be best described as the irritation or inflammation of the bursa. The bursa is a sac that is filled with lubricating fluid and is located between tissues such as tendons, muscle, bone, and skin. Its primary function is to reduce friction and rubbing.
A car accident injury can lead to an inflamed bursa, which means the patient’s normal body movements will become agonizingly painful.
5. Dancer’s Hip or Snapping Hip Syndrome
This is a medical condition characterized by a ‘snapping’ sensation whenever the patients extend or flex their hip. The snapping hip syndrome is generally accompanied by severe pain, discomfort, and a popping noise. Complete bed rest for a couple of weeks can help lessen the pain.
Even younger adults who are relatively healthy can suffer unbearable pain and limitations in their ability to work and live independently following a hip injury. If you or a loved one are experiencing hip pain after a car accident, you must seek medical attention right away.
Watch YouTube Video: Hip Pain, Common Causes. This educational video provides everything you need to know about hip pain and the causes of it.
Hip Injury Attorneys in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Hip Injury Lawyer. Hip injuries in a car accident can result in prolonged medical treatment and rehabilitation, apart from causing loss of income, pain and suffering, and other damages. If you have sustained a hip injury in an accident caused by another’s negligence, you may have a strong case for personal injury compensation. Call me today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
We are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel.
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