Hand and wrist injuries are common consequences of North Carolina car accidents, often caused by the force of the impact. Like other automobile injuries, hand and wrist injuries can be profoundly serious and significantly impact the quality of the victim’s life. Wrist fractures are one of the most common injuries sustained after an automobile collision.
Symptoms of Wrist Injuries
The symptoms of wrist injuries are often immediate, including pain, swelling, and bruising. Wrist injuries are typically diagnosed with X-rays and treated like similar orthopedic injuries. The bones will be set and immobilized, allowing them time to heal.
Some wrist fractures can be realigned without a surgical incision, while others need surgical intervention. Pins, wires, and plates may also treat a wrist injury and secure bone fragments together when the bone is fractured in multiple places. Physical therapy may also be recommended to ensure a complete recovery from a broken wrist or hand.
Different Types of Fractures
Some wrist fractures are stable. “Non-displaced” breaks, in which the bones do not move out of place initially, can also be stable. Some “displaced” breaks (which need to be put back into the right place, called “reduction” or “setting”) can also be stable enough to treat in a cast or splint.
Other fractures are unstable. In unstable fractures, even if the bones are put back into position and a cast is placed, the bone pieces tend to move or shift into a bad position before they solidly heal, making the wrist appear crooked.
Some fractures are more severe than others. Fractures that break apart the smooth joint surface or fractures that shatter into many pieces (comminuted fractures) may make the bone unstable. These severe fractures often require surgery to restore and hold their alignment. An open fracture occurs when a fragment of bone breaks and is forced out through the skin.
Common Wrist Fractures
A scaphoid fracture is a prevalent injury seen in automobile collisions. This injury involves a break in the scaphoid bone, one of the small bones located in the wrist. Due to its position and the forces exerted on the wrist during an accident, the scaphoid bone is particularly vulnerable to fractures.
Scaphoid fractures often occur when a driver or passenger braces themselves against the steering wheel or dashboard, causing the wrist to hyperextend. Symptoms of this type of fracture can include pain on the thumb side of the wrist, swelling, and difficulty in moving the wrist or thumb.
Treatment for Wrist Fractures
It’s crucial to seek medical attention promptly, as scaphoid fractures can lead to complications if not treated properly, including chronic pain and potential long-term dysfunction of the wrist. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are vital for ensuring a full recovery.
Treatment depends on many factors, including:
- Type of fracture, whether it is displaced, unstable, or open.
- Your age, job, hobbies, activity level, and whether it is your “dominant” hand.
- Your overall general health.
- Presence of other injuries.
A padded splint might be worn at first to align the bones and support the wrist, providing some relief from the initial pain. If the fracture is not too unstable, a cast may be used to hold a cast that has been set.
Recovery Timeline for Wrist Fractures
Recovery time varies and depends on a lot of factors. It is not unusual for recovery to take months. Even then, some patients may have stiffness or aching. Severe wrist fractures can result in arthritis in the joint. In serious cases, the car accident victim may not be able to perform the work they used to carry out due to the damage done to their hand or wrist, thereby suffering a loss of earning capacity. If you or a loved one has sustained an injury in a car accident, you may be able to recover compensation for these and other losses resulting from the car crash.
Some wrist fractures require surgery.
Representation for Wrist Fracture Injuries
Wrist injuries in car accidents can result in costly medical bills from treatment procedures and physical therapy. Furthermore, while a wrist injury heals, the victim may need time away from work, resulting in lost wages.
Maginnis Howard’s lead personal injury attorney, T. Shawn Howard, has experience handling complex North Carolina personal injury claims. Recently, he recovered $147,000 for a Chatham County boy who suffered a wrist fracture in a car accident.
Our firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorneys’ fees unless we reach a settlement or obtain a verdict or settlement in your case.
We serve clients across the Carolinas from our Raleigh, Charlotte, and Fayetteville offices. Contact us today to set up a free consultation with our experienced legal staff.
