Many of our new clients suffer crush injuries caused by truck and auto collisions, general industrial accidents, serious falls, ceiling and building collapse, machine malfunctions, and transportation accidents. While many of these individuals fully heal from their injuries with prompt treatment and rehabilitation, others must undergo amputations and learn to adjust to one or more permanent disabilities.

If you or someone you love has suffered a crush injury, please contact our Sacramento Personal Injury Attorneys at (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice.

Stated simply, this occurs when a part of a person’s body is severely compressed between one or more challenging surfaces. The severe loss of oxygen and blood flow almost immediately damages the person’s tissues in the affected areas. Over hours, ischemia (a condition caused by inadequate blood flow to parts of the body) can set in, often causing damaged tissues to die.

Once crush injury patients are seen in an emergency room, they’re carefully checked for any of the following symptoms to prevent harmful complications.

• Lacerations to various parts of the body
• Bone fractures
• Severe bleeding
• Bruising
• Vascular integrity issues
• Dizziness and nausea

If the patient’s injuries are moderate to severe, they often develop “compartment syndrome.” An individual “compartment” is a group of blood vessels, muscle tissues, and nerves in a person’s arms and legs surrounded by a large membrane called the fascia. Since this outer membrane, the fascia, cannot expand, the various tissues, muscles, and nerves within the compartment can be seriously damaged when swelling.

Once all these injuries worsen, many patients’ supporting ligaments, neurovascular structures, and covering soft tissues are further damaged.

When crush injuries are moderate or severe, the damaged tissues and muscle fibers often produce byproducts like lactic acid and potassium that pour into the person’s bloodstream. Once these added chemicals are recognized, rhabdomyolysis (“crush syndrome“) can develop. If not carefully monitored and effectively treated, this syndrome can lead to renal (kidney) failure, heart arrhythmias – and even death.

Employers must proactively offer safety training to all these employees since their chances of developing crush injuries are far higher than workers in many other industries. Being forced to try and survive after heavy steel beams fall on you and crush different body parts can be excruciating and challenging. Some employees are also hurt when forklift operators and dump truck drivers drop heavy building materials while trying to properly maneuver them.

Other workers must exercise extreme caution – always ensuring machine guards are kept in place while using power presses and other machines on construction sites. Workers can quickly lose fingers or hands when the guards aren’t positioned for maximum safety due to power press crush injuries.

Although construction site managers and supervisors often rush their workers to complete all tasks quickly, they must be given adequate rest breaks to return to demanding jobs with greater focus and energy.

Unfortunately, construction work,car accidents, and other common causes of crush injuries are a regular part of modern life. Therefore, the injured parties must be promptly seen in an emergency room when they do occur.

Doctors exercise great caution when examining these patients, knowing that many of their worst injuries may be “hidden.” In fact, many crush injury patients arrive in a state of “shock” to some extent, especially when their injuries are severe. Once all vital signs have been taken, these patients are carefully examined for severe bone fractures, bleeding, swelling, and skin damage. Many of them are in severe pain, especially those who may need immediate amputation.

After X-rays are run to determine the extent of bone fractures, a CT (computed tomography) scan will help indicate various soft-tissue injuries. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging test) is also frequently run on each patient. MRIs allow doctors to evaluate various brain conditions to see if the new injury has caused inflammation or other complications. Of course, basic bloodwork is always done to check each patient’s electrolytes, calcium levels, and serum bicarbonate.

All this lab work helps doctors determine if any signs of rhabdomyolysis can impair kidney function. Physicians also examine each patient to determine if “compartment syndrome” has developed.

Although some patients who have sustained minor “crush” injuries only require simple wound care, others may need multiple treatments so they can restore the proper distribution of blood and oxygen throughout their bodies. Improved kidney function and stabilized heart rates help doctors determine when all non-crisis surgeries should be scheduled.

When patients struggle with one or more bone fractures, an orthopedic surgeon is often called in to help. Different vascular repairs may also require immediate attention, especially when amputation of one or more body parts is being considered.

The rehabilitation therapy needs of these patients can be extensive, especially if they have to adjust to the amputation of one or more body parts. Psychotherapy can prove crucial as these individuals come to terms with their various physical losses. In addition to coping with specific new mobility or dexterity issues, many patients have to adjust to the fact that they may never again be able to do the same type of work they once did.

Pain management issues must also be addressed. Patients will need help finding non-prescription ways to cope with pain since drug addiction is a common threat to crush injury survivors who are initially given many painkiller drugs. As patients continue all rehabilitative efforts to improve their health, good psychologists can help medical doctors motivate the injured to take proper care of themselves.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a collision or other accident and needs the help of an experienced attorney, please contact our injury attorneys immediately at 916.921.6400 or 800.404.5400 for compassionate, free, and friendly advice. We can also be reached online through AutoAccident.com.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 7.11.23] Image by bridgesward from Pixabay eBs Rey [cs 1026]}