Did you know that car crashes are a leading cause of traumatic amputations? Crashes, especially those that take place at high speeds, can cause significant injuries. Crushed bones may be so badly damaged that there is no other option but to amputate. Similarly, sharp edges and debris could also lacerate a person’s body parts, which could lead to amputation if a limb is involved.
Lower-extremity injuries and amputations are particularly common. Leg amputation leads to an immediate disability, which may take the individual months or years to learn to cope with.
Why would an amputation be needed after a car crash?
After a crash, an amputation may be needed if the health care team determined that your body won’t be able to heal the injury to your leg. In some cases, the team may already have performed surgery to attempt to save the limb with disappointing results.
What happens during an amputation?
When a surgeon decides to perform an amputation, the goal is to save as much of your limb as possible. Usually, they will work hard to preserve joints as well. However, surgeons don’t always know how much of the limb they’ll have to remove until they start working on the patient. Initially, one surgery may remove just a small portion of the limb, and a secondary surgery may be scheduled once the patient is medically stable.
Patients with amputations can usually go on to live a normal life, even with the loss of a limb. However, there will be pain management concerns as well as rehabilitation. Though prosthetics are usually available, it will still take time to adjust.
This type of injury will significantly alter your life. The person responsible for causing the accident should be held responsible for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages and much more.