Have you suffered from a spinal fracture that is the result of an accident?
Traumatic accidents such as auto accidents, pedestrian accidents and falls at work are a leading cause of spine fractures. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Our lawyers are highly experienced in handling spinal injury fracture claims. Below you will find information on what is a spinal fracture. If you find that your spinal fracture has resulted in ongoing disability, you may be entitled to compensation to cover your treatment expenses and loss of earnings. Contact us today to find out more about your legal rights. We have lawyers who specialize in auto accidents and spine fractures.
Spinal Fractures from Accidents
The area of the spine thought to be most vulnerable to fracture is the T12 (thoracic) to L2 (lumbar) area. The most common type of verteberal fracture is a compression fracture.
The spine is made up of bones known as vertebra. Anterior, posterior and middle column refer to the various areas of the vertebral body that can be fractured. When the spine is fractured, the fracture can be stable or unstable. Injuries involving the anterior column (for example, wedge fractures) tend to be stable fractures. Fractures involving the posterior and/or middle column tend to be unstable fractures. Fractures that involve all three columns are unstable and will require surgery to stabilize.
The majority of spine fractures are stable and do not damage the spinal cord. However, if the is a displacement of the fracture (an unstable fracture) then the this can cause damage to the spinal cord. Damage to the spinal cord can result in permanent disability.
Stable Spinal Fracture
With a stable spinal fracture, there is often acute pain in the area of the spine that has been injured as well as paravertebral muscle spasms. There may also be localized bruising and tenderness. Stable fractures can be treated conservatively with bed rest to allow healing. The patient should avoid unnecessary movements like twisting and bending. Analgesic medication can be used to help with the pain. If the spinal fracture is in the neck area, then a collar may help or a halo vest to reduce the amount of movement in the cervical spine.
With stable spine fractures, there should not be any neurological deficits upon clinical examination by the doctor, however if there are signs of neurological problems, then surgery may be needed to reduce pressure that is being exerted from the fracture onto the spinal cord. Signs that there might be neurological problems include changes in sensations or difficulties in movement of the neck, arms and legs, and difficulties with bladder and bowel control.
Unstable Spinal Fractures
If the spinal fracture has left the spine unstable, there will usually be neurological signs and symptoms such as loss of sensation, paralysis and bowel or bowel problems. Surgery will most likely need to be performed immediately to stabilize and align the spinal column, and this will usually require some kind of fusion procedure (using screws, rods, cages etc).
Neurological Injury from Spinal Fractures
A spinal fracture can cause neurological damage (incomplete spinal lesions), conditions such as:
- Brown S´equard syndrome
- Anterior cord syndrome
- Central cord syndrome
- Posterior cord syndrome
These lesions can cause permanent motor and/or sensory impairment.
Getting Legal Help
Our lawyers are familiar with spinal fracture claims, having dealt with many settlements involving spinal injury accidents particularly from auto accidents.
If you have ongoing damage and disability from an accident, contact us today to find out whether you can make a claim.
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