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Open fractures pose a high risk of infection

On Behalf of | Jan 8, 2018 | Personal Injury

Suffering a serious injury can be a frightening experience. In some cases, you may not know right away the extent of the harm you have suffered, and in other instances, you may immediately recognize that you have suffered a severe injury. Many signs could indicate serious damage and can range from experiencing pain to visual signs such as blood or bone exposure.

When it comes to bone exposure, you may have suffered an open fracture, also known as a compound fracture. This type of injury could occur in a car accident or other event, and the injury itself is always considered serious. You could experience numerous negative effects from such a fracture, and infection is one of the most serious.

Contamination

When an open fracture occurs, the bone penetrates through the skin. As a result, a considerable chance exists that bacteria from the surface of the skin, the surrounding environment and other areas could easily enter the wound. Because of this possibility, physicians always consider this type of injury contaminated. The rates and levels of contamination may vary, but infection is always a serious concern.

Surgery

In most cases, surgical cleaning of open fractures is necessary in hopes of lowering the risk of infection and attending to the injury. The severity of the injury may factor into what type of treatment is necessary in order to set the bone and get you on the path to recovery. In the event that you do suffer an infection, you may need multiple surgical procedures, antibiotics and other medical treatments in order to address the issues. In some cases, you could even experience long-term effects.

Recovery

When it comes to recovering from an open fracture, you may have a long road ahead of you. Unlike closed bone fractures, open fractures cause severe damage to the bone and surrounding soft tissues. Along with the possibility of treating an infection, recovering from these damages can take a considerable amount of time, which may mean missing work and accumulating considerable medical bills.

Compensation

If you did suffer an open fracture as the result of a car accident caused by another person, you may have cause to seek compensation for the injury and other damages. A personal injury claim could help you pursue monetary restitution for medical expenses, lost wages and other damages permitted under Kentucky state law. Information on taking this course of action may help you determine whether it may suit your circumstances.