Injured car accident victims often face a long road to recovery. It takes months of treatment to recover from the typical musculoskeletal injuries that could potentially lead to orthopedic surgery.
Orthopedic surgery refers to any surgical operation done to the muscles bones joints tendons and ligaments, and come with their own unique set of risks and complications.
For an accident victim who may be weighing the decision whether or not to have a procedure done, it could be reassuring to know that the operation they are considering is commonly performed. And while the medical cost may be intimidating, if the accident was caused by another driver's negligence they may be entitled to financial compensation for their injuries and other damages. For more information on that, contact our team of award-winning attorneys today.
Below is a list of the 10 most common Orthopedic Surgeries typically recommended for car accident victims:
- ACL Reconstruction Surgery: The Anterior Cruciate Ligament or ACL runs diagonally through the front of the knee and is often injured in both sports and accidents, resulting in extreme difficulty walking or performing other regular daily functions. ACL reconstruction involved using a portion of another tendon as a graft over a torn ACL, and requires basic rest and other recovery methods when performed.
- Knee Replacement Surgery: When an accident victim has damage to the cartilage in their knee joint they may require full or partial knee replacement surgery which entails replacing the damaged components of the knee with metal components. Patients typically are able to go home within five days of the procedure with the total recovery time typically taking around three months.
- Shoulder Replacement Surgery: Shoulder replacement surgery actually involved removing a section of the Humerus, or upper arm, and replacing it with a metal ball, along with replacing the damaged portion of the socket and replacing that as well. If the rotator cuff is also damaged in the accident, the ball and socket switch with the shoulder now having the ball and the arm having the socket, and these being held in place with screws and plates. Recovery times will depend on the extent of the damage but it can take up to a year for a shoulder to have full range of motion again.
- Hip Replacement Surgery: Another procedure involving a ball and socket joint, the end of the femur is is called the "Femoral head" and connects to the acetabulum or the socket in the hip, in a traditional replacement the entire ball and socket would be replaced. A Birmingham hip resurfacing is another option in some cases that would allow for more bone to be kept and is generally considered to be a less invasive option that allows for a total replacement to still take place if required. Even with full hip replacement surgery most patients are able to walk within days and be fully healed in up to six weeks.
- Knee Arthroscopy: This diagnostic procedure allows doctors to see directly what is happening inside the knee via a small camera that is inserted into an incision. In some cases doctors are even able to treat certain issues they encounter via the same incision or by making additional ones. Recovery time depends on the specific issues and treatments provided but the minimally invasive nature of the procedure typically means shorter recovery times when compared to non arthroscopic measures.
- Shoulder Arthroscopy: Small incisions allow the doctor to examine the damage to the shoulder and make repairs to a number of issues like rotator cuff repair or removal of damaged tissue or cartilage. This procedure is less invasive than full shoulder repair and may be considered when evaluating whether or not to have a replacement. Once again, recovery time may vary depending on the specifics of the injury but typical recovery time is no shorter than six weeks.
- Ankle Repair: If after a broken ankle the bones are not aligned properly, the joint may be unstable, requiring ankle repair surgery. This procedure has doctors repositioning the bones and typically takes several weeks of recovery with patients wearing a boot or cast before beginning physical therapy or rehab to regain full range of motion.
- Spinal Surgeries: From Spinal Fusion to Laminectomy spinal surgeries often involve serious problems due to the vital role the spine plays in being the support system for our entire body. Spinal procedures can bring a lot of risks, but thankfully minimally invasive spine surgeries have advanced and are options for certain types of procedures that could provide more peace of mind and even faster recovery times.
- Joint Fusion: When the cartilage in a joint is damaged to the point where it needs to be removed, surgeons will graft the two bones, previously bound by the joint together. The process is similar to welding and results in what is essentially a single bone where two were. Depending on the bone and location in the body, what is lost in range of motion or ability to move at all is replaced with stability and often decreased pain.
- Trigger Finger Release: After an accident that injures the protective tissue around a tendon in the hands, some accident victims may report los off range of motion in the fingers, this is often referred to as trigger finger release. When the tissue is injured and inflamed the tendons that run from the base to the finger tip are unable to fully extend. Doctors are able to alleviate this with a small incision in the palm where the doctor is able to release the tendon from the protective tissue, with a full recovery typically taking around six weeks.
These 10 surgical procedures are regularly performed around the world for anyone from accident victims to professional athletes and often provide amazing results. It's important to go over your options with your healthcare provider when considering one of these procedures and consider factors like which procedure is the least invasive, and which procedures offer the best opportunity for long term results.
Many of these procedures provide significant boosts to the quality of life of an accident victim and could be necessary on top of physical therapy and rehab for a victim to fully recover. If you've been a victim in an accident and are worried about the cost of medical care, a medical lien may help you seek out all the care required to help you recover from your accident while allowing you all the time and freedom to pursue your settlement you need to get the right result.
Contact Davis Law Group To Request A Free Consultation
Don't let insurance adjusters or care providers pressure you into an early settlement, if you have questions about your case or how to take care of medical bills while you wait for a settlement, the team at Davis Law Group is here to help with free case evaluations for accident victims. We have decades of success in recovering excellent settlements for our clients.
Call 206-727-4000 or use the chat or contact options on the screen to request a case evaluation with our team of award winning personal injury attorneys today.
