When you think of catastrophic injuries, you may think about spinal cord injuries or brain injuries. While these are definitely catastrophic injuries, did you know that there are other kinds as well? Broken bones can be catastrophic injuries depending on the extent of the damage.

For example, if a bone is crushed so badly that it cannot be pinned or screwed back together, then there is a chance that the limb will need to be amputated. Even if the bone can be repaired and heal, there could be consequences such as chronic pain or dysfunction.

Broken bones range in severity

Broken bones can have mild fractures or be crushed to the point of being unrecognizable. While mild or moderate breaks may heal over time and leave the victim with no lasting complications, more seriously broken bones may be catastrophic in nature.

Even if a break is moderate and is reset into place correctly, there could be a risk of an infection known as osteomyelitis. If left untreated, and even if treated in acute cases, this infection could lead to the need for amputation.

Broken bones may be more serious than you think

While people often think of broken bones as minor injuries that will heal in just a few weeks, the reality is that broken bones can cause severe damage to veins, arteries and other tissues. They may be broken to the point of being irreparable, and the breaks could become infected if the skin was broken.

It’s always important to keep a close eye on any broken bones you have after a collision. If the break is severe and requires surgery or amputation, then it should be considered acute and potentially catastrophic in nature. You should be fairly compensated if that broken bone cannot be repaired or if it causes you significant pain and dysfunction.

After a crash, gather your medical information. It’s smart not to accept a settlement until you know how your injuries will affect you. While your injuries may not seem like catastrophic injuries at first, those that do not heal or that become infected could lead to the need for amputations or other invasive treatments that will impact you for the remainder of your life.