Compartment Syndrome
Legal Representation for Victims of Chronic Pain
Our limbs have groupings of muscle, nerves, and blood vessels wrapped up in a membrane called fascia. These compartments help give us shape, and, for that purpose, the fascia is tough and not very flexible. That means when the muscle swells, or there’s some other build-up of pressure, there’s nowhere for that pressure to go. It builds up within the compartment, causing intense pain and lasting damage.
The Husband & Wife Law Team has seen just how devastating compartment syndrome can be. We’ve worked with clients who were left in non-stop pain as a result of the syndrome. Unfortunately, it is a common aftereffect of vehicle accidents, but one that may not become obvious until you’ve been treated for your initial injuries and have left the hospital. If you or a loved one are suffering from compartment syndrome due to an act of negligence, contact our personal injury attorneys. We’re here to help.
Common Compartment Syndrome Causes
Compartment syndrome occurs after an injury to one of your limbs, such as a broken or fractured bone, which in turn damages the muscles and causes them to start to swell and push against the fascia. Many forms of trauma can cause this swelling to start, including:
Casts/bandages applied too tightly
Motorcyclists are at a particularly high risk for compartment syndrome. The unprotected nature of motorcycles means that a biker’s limbs are often broken or crushed on impact, especially the legs. Even a slow impact accident can result in a motorcyclist developing the syndrome. In contrast, drivers of passenger vehicles may not suffer bone fractures at all if the accident isn’t too severe.
Compartment Syndrome Symptoms
The most prominent symptom of the syndrome is constant, intense pain in the impacted limb. This pain won’t go away and becomes worse when you apply pressure to it. However, other symptoms may help determine if you are suffering from compartment syndrome, or if it’s a different kind of injury, such as:
Itching, tingling, or burning sensation
Lowered pulse
Tightened skin
Numbness
Paralysis
All of these symptoms should be isolated to the impacted limb. For example, if you fractured your fibula in a car accident and developed compartment syndrome as a result, the pain, lowered pulse, numbness, and any other symptoms would just be in the leg that you broke.
Common Treatments
The main method of treating compartment syndrome is a surgery called a fasciotomy. The surgeon will make an incision on the impacted limb and cut the fascia open, relieving the pressure. This process is considered a medical emergency, so it’s important to get treatment as soon as possible.
There are some cases where the swelling will be too intense and the surgeon will be unable to close the cut in your fascia back up. At that point, a skin graft may be deemed necessary in order to promoted proper healing and recovery.
Unfortunately, compartment syndrome can be difficult to diagnose. Doctors will often try to rule out other possible complications, like tendonitis, before finally providing a proper diagnosis. Compartment syndrome may not even be on the list of possibilities for your doctor. However, time is of the essence for this syndrome, so do not hesitate to seek out a second medical opinion if the diagnosis is taking too long.
The Dangers of Compartment Syndrome
Beyond the pain, compartment syndrome can have a lasting impact on your life. If the syndrome is not treated quickly, then it can lead to permanent damage. The swelling can cut off blood flow to the limb and cause muscle death, resulting in paralysis or limited mobility.
On top of that, as your cells die, they release toxic chemicals. These chemicals are naturally filtered by your kidneys, and so small amounts won’t cause much harm. But too many dead cells can overload your kidneys, causing permanent damage to them and resulting in complications further down the line.
As already stated, surgery is required to treat compartment syndrome. That means that you will likely rack up a lot of medical debt while you recover from this trauma. You may also have to miss work while you heal, resulting in lost wages. If the damage is permanent, then it’s possible you will not be able to perform your normal professional duties and your career will be harmed. You don’t deserve to be left dealing with debt, losing out on paychecks, and, on top of all that, be in incredible pain due to someone else’s negligence. That’s why contacting a skilled, experienced compartment syndrome lawyer may be your best option.
How Injury Lawyers at The Husband & Wife Law Team Can Help
The injury attorneys at The Husband & Wife Law Team are passionate about helping people. We know that things can feel hopeless when you’ve suffered a major injury due to an act of negligence. You may not know what to do next or who to turn to for help. You deserve justice and peace of mind. We may not be able to reverse what happened to you, but we can certainly fight for your right to compensation and a comfortable life. Call us today, and let’s talk about your case.