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A personal injury clinic in San Antonio treats the two types of car accident injuries: impact injuries and penetrating injuries. Impact injuries affect the spine, soft tissue, head, chest, shoulders, and arms and legs, while penetrating injuries cause cuts and scrapes. The severity of the injuries will depend on whether the injured individual was:
- Wearing a seat belt
- Hit from the rear, side, or front
- Facing straight ahead or if their head or body was turned
Soft Tissue Injuries
A soft tissue injury can affect the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Whiplash is one type of soft tissue injury that occurs in the neck and upper back, and is caused by a sudden movement imposed on the head and neck that stretches and sprains the muscles and ligaments.
Scrapes and Cuts
During a collision, loose objects such as cell phones, coffee mugs, eyeglasses, and dash-mounted GPS systems can cut through the skin and cause other visible injuries. These scrapes and cuts may be minor, or they may lead to heavy blood loss and require stitches.
Head Injuries
A serious car accident may break the bone in the skull, an injury commonly referred to as a skull fracture. A fracture is at least 3 mm wide, widest at the center and narrow at the tips, runs through the outer and inner lamina of bone, and has angular turns. A bone break less than 2 mm in width, with a uniform width, and angled curve is a skull suture, not a fracture.
A linear or basilar fracture will heal on its own, but an open fracture will require antibiotics to reduce the risk of contamination. Patients with swelling in their brain tissue may need to undergo a craniectomy, a procedure done to remove part of the skull and allow the swollen brain to expand.
A concussion is another common, short-term injury that could cause confusion, migraines, difficulty sleeping, loss of consciousness, poor balance, inability to concentrate, tinnitus, and cognitive impairment. Physicians at a personal injury clinic in San Antonio will evaluate a patient’s symptoms and conduct the necessary diagnostic testing to determine if a patient has a concussion.
Spinal Injuries
Survivors of car accidents often end up with spinal injuries, which could include herniated discs and even paralysis. A herniated disc is when the soft jelly-like substance that sits between the vertebrae is moved out of place. A healthy disc provides critical support to the spine and acts as a shock absorber, whereas a herniated disc could lead to muscle weakness, tingling or numbness in the legs or arms, and sharp, radiating pain.
Shoulder Injuries
A car accident could also cause injuries to the shoulder, such as bursitis, deep tissue bruising, and rotator cuff impingement. Bursitis is a condition in which the bursa, a sac-like structure that supports the bones and soft tendons, becomes inflamed and limits movement. In some cases, the bursa can produce fluid and raise body temperature.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of a car accident injury, don’t hesitate to call the best personal injury clinic in San Antonio to schedule an appointment.
