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Car Accident Fractures: Treatment for Broken Bones

At ProCare, our team of specialists and experts offer world-class medical care for broken bones and fractures from a car accident. Whether it’s a hairline fracture or a broken leg, we’re here to help you recover better, faster.

Assessing Car Accident Fractures and Hairline Breaks

A car accident fracture is more commonly known as a broken bone. In fact, broken bones are some of the most common of all car accident injuries. When you get into a car accident, your body undergoes a lot of pressure and stress. The force of impact might even cause you to jolt and jostle around, putting your limbs at greater risk for injury. Whether or not you were wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident can also play a role in the injuries you sustain and their severity. A car accident doctor can evaluate you for any car accident injuries, including broken bones, and provide you with the necessary treatment options.

If you experience intense pain along with swelling, bruising, and limited mobility after a car accident, you might be dealing with a fracture. The type and severity of your broken bone will depend on what treatment options will work best for you. First, your car accident doctor will diagnose your broken bone with a combination of a physical examination and diagnostic imaging tools. Most broken bones will be visible on an X-ray, which provides your doctor with a detailed image of the injured area. Your doctor will also look for visible signs of a broken bone, like a limb or joint that looks out of place or misshapen. 

Once your car accident doctor has located the fracture and determined its type and severity, they will talk to you about treatment options to relieve your symptoms and allow the bone to heal. Your doctor will know exactly how to treat your car accident fracture so you can experience optimal healing. A broken bone may need to be reset, or you may need to wear a cast to keep the area immobilized while you heal. Some serious fractures may require surgery, after which you can follow up with your car accident doctor for recovery and rehabilitation. 

Should You Get Evaluated for Broken Bones After a Car Accident?

If you experience any pain or discomfort after a car accident, you want to get checked out by a car accident doctor as soon as possible. Even if you don’t have any immediate symptoms, it doesn’t hurt to visit a doctor to confirm a clean bill of health. A general rule of thumb for car accidents is that if your car sustained any kind of damage, it’s likely that your body did, too. Don’t try to wait out a pesky headache or think that stiffness and soreness will go away on its own. Instead, visit a car accident doctor who has the knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat a wide variety of car accident injuries. 

While you might assume a broken bone would be pretty obvious, that is not always the case. When you think of a broken bone, you might associate it with a broken arm or wrist that requires a cast. However, other types of broken bones have less obvious symptoms and may require different types of treatment. For example, a hairline fracture refers to a type of injury where the bone suffers a small crack that can have a lasting impact. Some broken bones don’t break all the way through but still require medical attention to ensure the bone heals properly. 

Sometimes a car accident fracture will require immediate medical attention from first responders. Call 911 if you or someone you know has severe bleeding, the bone has broken the skin, or if the area below the break feels cold and looks clammy or blue. If you suspect a head, neck, or back injury, do not move and wait for paramedics to arrive. Try not to move yourself or anyone with a hip, pelvis, or upper leg injury to avoid making the injury worse. Not all car accident fractures will be medical emergencies, but they all deserve medical attention.

FAQs: Car Accident Fractures, Hairline Breaks & Recovery

The most common symptoms of a car accident fracture include pain, swelling, and discolored skin around the injured area. You may notice a deformity, protrusion, or the bone looks at an unusual angle. A car accident fracture can lead to an inability to move or put weight on the injured area. In some cases, a broken bone can break the skin and cause bleeding. A severe broken bone may also cause you to feel dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea. 

In many cases, a fracture can heal naturally. However, you must visit a car accident doctor to ensure the bone heals in its proper positioning. The body’s natural healing process allows for the broken pieces to reconnect, but if the bone isn’t set properly, this can impact the healing process and leave you with pain and other complications. For a mild to moderate broken bone, a cast, brace, or splint can help immobilize the area while the fracture heals on its own. In some cases, a broken bone may require surgery to realign the bone properly so it can heal in the proper position.

The location and severity of the broken bone will impact the length of time it takes to heal. A car accident fracture can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to heal. For example, a broken wrist may require a cast for 3-6 weeks, while a broken leg may require months. The healing process will also include rehabilitation after a car accident fracture.

Most of the time, your car accident doctors will recommend you begin the recovery and rehabilitation process while you heal. While the area may need to stay immobilized so the bone can heal properly, you can work on ways to strengthen your muscles that support the affected area. Once the bone no longer needs to be immobilized, you can rehab the area with stretches and exercises to regain strength and mobility. 

Call the ProCare Team

Our team of personal injury specialists at ProCare have treated thousands of accident victims across our locations in Texas, including the Greater Austin and San Antonio metro areas. Whether you were in a fender bender or a major accident, our doctors can treat your injuries and help you live a pain-free life. Schedule an appointment today or visit our Locations hub to find a clinic near you.