Sustaining Spinal Disc Injuries Following Car Accidents
Sustaining Spinal Disc Injuries Following Car Accidents – When someone sustains injuries in a car accident, numerous complications might develop. While treating the acute injuries is essential, it is just as critical to making sure that everyone remains vigilant for potential complications that could arise. Some of these complications could lead to life-changing issues. According to information released by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA)in 2015:
- There were close to 23,000 people who were killed in car accidents involving sedans and light trucks.
- Almost 5,000 people were killed in crashes involving motorcycles, which was the highest number since 2012.
- Over 5,000 pedestrians were killed when struck by cars.
- More than 100,000 people sustained serious injuries in car accidents.
These statistics demonstrate that many people sustain serious injuries or are even killed in accidents every year. Some of the injuries that people could suffer are more serious than others. One of the most severe injuries involves the spinal cord, which can lead to permanent, life-altering complications that should be avoided if possible.
Symptoms of a Spinal Cord Injury
There are several symptoms of a spinal cord injury which everyone should look out for following a car accident. Some of these include:
Back Pain: While this may seem obvious, many people just dismiss back pain as general soreness following a crash. While this could be the case, sharp, pointed back pain should be looked at by a doctor.
Incontinence: Incontinence of the bowels and bladder following a car accident is an emergency. It could be a sign of something called Cauda Equina syndrome, where compression of nerves in the cord leads to incontinence.
Difficulty Moving: Anyone who experiences trouble moving their arms and legs following an accident should seek medical care. It could be a sign of damage to the nerves that control the limbs.
Complications: Infection of the Spinal Cord Following a Traumatic Accident
One of the complications that people may experience with an injury to the spinal cord is an infection. An infection of the spinal cord should be taken seriously. This often results from a penetrating injury to the cord itself, which introduces bacteria into the spinal canal. Symptoms of a spinal cord infection include:
- Fever from the infection
- Shooting pains down the arms and legs from swelling at the infection site, compressing the nerves
- Pain that worsens with movement
- Redness over the area
- Refusal to bear weight on the legs
Individuals experiencing these symptoms often receive an MRI scan to get a better look at the spinal canal. Evidence of infection could require a visit to an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon for drainage of the virus, accompanied by antibiotics.
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Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers. Trauma to the spine should be treated quickly. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a car accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
I’m a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
To see a list of our prior cases and what our clients are saying about us, click on the sites below:
Sustaining Spinal Disc Injuries Following Car Accidents: AutoAccidents.com
Image Attribution: The photo at the start of this article is seen in its original form on Unsplash. The image has been reproduced here with permission/ Sustaining Spinal Disc Injuries Following Car Accidents.
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