No one wants to experience a fracture, yet millions of people do. Many people assume that their doctor is considering all the possible treatment options, but the truth is that sometimes they aren’t. In some cases, a doctor is simply putting a cast on the broken bone and not considering other options. One of the reasons you need to work with a personal injury attorney if your fracture was the result of someone else’s negligence is because we can ensure you get the best care possible. Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 right away for your free case evaluation.
Fractures need specific treatment
The first thing that will happen when you go to the hospital is that a physician will evaluate your injury. They will consider the injury, your overall condition, and will attempt to figure out the extent of your injury. Generally they’ll use an x-ray or MRI to get specifics. These tests can tell them not just what bone fractures they’re dealing with, but the exact location of the broken bone.
The right way to treat a fracture will vary based on a huge number of factors, including what bone you’ve broken, where the break is, and what type of break it is. That said, there’s always the same goal: To ensure the bone is properly aligned to prevent it from moving while it heals. This is a process the medical community refers to as reduction.
Casts are the most common treatment
In most cases, a simple cast is enough to treat a broken bone because the vast majority of fractures can heal fine as long as they’re repositioned and the bone stays in position while it’s healing. In some cases, a functional cast, or perhaps a brace, can give a little bit of movement for the joints surrounding the break.
Other options include traction and external fixation
Traction is the treatment chosen when the best way to align the bones is to gently, steadily pull the bones back together. External fixation involves actually installing screws or pins into the bones above and below the place where it was fractured. The doctor then attaches those pins or screws to a metal bar outside of the body. This is a way of ensuring the bone stays stable while it heals. In most cases, this is only used until surgery can be done, because external fixation does cause quite a bit of damage to the skin and soft tissues.
You need to know all the options
When you’re injured in an accident, don’t assume that the first doctor you see is offering the best possible care. Get a second opinion if you need to. When it comes to broken bones, not healing correctly can lead to lifelong problems. If you’ve been injured and have suffered a broken bone, reach out to Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas today at 909-982-0707 for a free consultation and we can advise you on your next right move.
