In the estimated 6 million annual car accidents over 3 million people are injured. Head and neck injuries are typical, as are facial lacerations from shattered glass or other shrapnel from the accident impact. Dental injuries are possible. Concussions and other brain injuries, broken bones, and torn muscles are not uncommon. Injuries to the abdomen, possibly internal bleeding, and legs is also a possibility. There is always a possibility of an infection from wounds that are not dressed properly or in a timely fashion. Mental health problems may ensue due to the stress of being in an accident, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder being an example of such. Whiplash is the most common injury when involved in car accident, and Spinal Cord Injuries are an example of a less common, but certainly more dangerous injury.
Whiplash is usually the result of being rear-ended where the head is violently snapped forward and back again, and it accounts for more than one million car accident back injuries. Whiplash is considered a "soft tissue" injury. A soft tissue injury is defined as a sprain or strain of muscles, tendons or ligaments. They are often overlooked by physicians because such injuries are not visible in x-rays, despite causing severe pain. If whiplash or other soft tissue injuries are left untreated they can cause chronic pain for months, even years after an accident. Such injuries are treated with pain-killers and anti-inflammatory medications, primarily leaving muscles to heal on their own. When the injury eventually heals, scar tissue often leaves the injured area weaker, less flexible, and prone to injury in the future.
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) are a more serious injury caused by car accidents. The Spinal Cord is a bundle of nerves that carry impulses from the brain to the rest of the body. Therefore SCI's can result in a loss of function such as mobility or feeling; the spinal cord doesnt have to be completely severed for this to take place. There are two categories of SCI: complete and incomplete. Complete SCI patients have no sensation and no voluntary movement. Both sides of the body are equally affected. In an incomplete SCI patients may be able to move one limb or the other, may feel body parts that cant be moved, or have more functionability on one side or the other. A severe SCI can cause paralysis and loss of sensation below the point of injury, pain or sensitivity, muscle spasms or sexual dysfunction. With this type of SCI patients commonly suffer from infections of the bladder of lungs, bowel or bladder dysfunction, or mens fertility may be affected. An injury high on the spine may affect the ability to breathe requiring the need of a ventilator. Low blood pressure and an inablitity ot regulate blood pressure, an inability to sweat which prohibits the body from cooling itself are also complications due to a severe SCI. There is no cure for SCI but steroid drugs can reduce swelling which is the common cause of secondary damage, although it can take months or years for the swelling that affects all the bodys other systems to go do down. Not many people regain all proper function. 85% of SCI patients that survive the first 24 hours are not likely to survive ten years. Death is commonly caused by a respiratory infection. Pneumonia is the number one cause of death in the first 15 years living with SCI, second is heart disease.
Traumatic Brain Injuries can also be the result of a car accident. A Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI is a head injury that causes damage to the brain, usually caused by an external force such as a blow to the head from hitting the steering wheel in a car accident. Tissues and cells in the brain are damaged and may cause temporary or permament impairment in the congnitive, emotional and physical abilities of an individual. Most TBI's are Closed Head Injuries meaning the brain has not been penetrated rather it has been set in motion inside the skull, causing contusions or twisting and stretching. There are many different symptoms of TBI, including seizures, double or blurred vision, speech impairments, headaches, fatigue, balance problems, short or long term memory loss, trouble concentrating, anxiety, or depression and mood swings.
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