Falling on Outstretched Arm can Cause Severe Wrist Fracture
Severe wrist fractures can occur in a variety of Georgia personal injury accidents. They can happen when a person trips and falls forward. Also, a person might suffer a severe wrist fracture if they were riding a motorcycle and was hit by a careless driver. A pedestrian or bicyclist could suffer a similar injury after being struck by a careless or reckless driver.
If you or a loved one was involved in a Georgia accident and suffered a broken wrist, the personal injury attorneys with Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, understand your pain and frustration. The Georgia accident attorneys from Montlick & Associates Fight hard on behalf of each injured client to recover for them the maximum compensation to which they are entitled under the law.
Why an outstretched wrist may break in a fall.
Falling on an outstretched arm can result in a severe break of the radius bone, which is the bigger of the two bones in a person's forearm. Physicians often describe a broken wrist as a "distal radius fracture." In this instance, distal means the end of the bone closest to the wrist joint. When someone speaks of breaking his or her wrist, this is the bone to which he or she refers. The radius is the bone that is broken most often in falls and high-speed crashes when the victim reaches out or lands on an outstretched arm. Additionally, distal fractures are the injury most commonly suffered by an adult who falls from a standing position, especially if they fall forward or out to the side.
Most distal wrist breaks happen about one inch above the wrist joint. The wrist breaks at the point because the force of the impact is normally displaced from the palm to the radius. The bone succumbs to the substantial force applied to the bones. The smaller bone, known as a the ulna, in a person's forearm can break too.
Treatment for a Distal Fracture
Doctors treat fractures almost the same way all of the time. They need to put all of the pieces together to before the healing process can begin. After the orthopedist puts all of the pieces of the bone together, then the wrist must be immobilized until the healing process runs its course.
Whether the injury requires surgical repair depends on several factors. Surgery may be necessary if the doctor cannot realign the broken bones. Realigning the broken bones is called reduction. A closed reduction is a procedure the physician uses to move the bones back to their natural alignment. An open reduction is a procedure an orthopedic surgeon uses when he or she must cut open a person's skin to repair the bones. A doctor must realign the broken bones correctly. If not, the bones could grow back incorrectly, causing a deformity and limiting mobility. Open reduction surgery often requires the doctor to use metal plates and screws to hold the bones in place so they can heal correctly.
Damages from a Broken Wrist
Total recovery can last up to two years. Some people may never fully recover and can continue to experience pain and stiffness years after the bones heal. Distal fractures can leave a person out of work for several months depending on the severity of the injury. Surgical wrist fractures can result in costly medical care, lost income, Pain and Suffering and other damages.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years Of Legal Experience To Work For Your Case!
If you have been injured in any type of accident caused by someone else's negligence, call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law for your free consultation today. Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law has been representing those who suffer serious injuries throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast for over 39 years, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.
No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at https://www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour live chat.
Sources:
https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/distal-radius-fractures-broken-wrist/
Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law
17 Executive Park Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Telephone: 1 (800) LAW-NEED
Telephone: 1 (404) 529-6333