You might be surprised to find out just how common broken bones are when it comes to car accidents. If you have been in a car accident and are experiencing a lot of pain afterward, it is possible that you suffered a broken bone in the wreck. When you are looking for a “car accident doctor near me,” you will notice that doctors who specialize in car accident injuries know how to treat a wide variety of broken bones.
Bone Fracture vs Broken Bone
When you see a doctor for pain after a car accident, they may diagnose you with a bone fracture. A fracture is the medical term for a broken bone and these terms can be used interchangeably. When you fracture a bone, it can be a tiny crack known as a hairline fracture, only visible on a detailed diagnostic imaging test like an X-ray or MRI, or it could be a compound fracture where the broken bone is protruding through the skin. Some broken bones, like a compound fracture, are more obvious and easily diagnosable than a hairline fracture, which you could mistake for another type of injury. That’s why you should always visit a car accident doctor after any type of wreck to get a thorough examination and rule out a serious injury.
How Car Accidents Cause Broken Bones
Broken bones are common in car accidents typically due to the force of impact. When your car collides with another, it can cause your body to get jolted and jostled around. A natural instinct is to put your hands out and brace yourself for an impact, which can actually lead to a broken wrist or arm bone. The seat belt and airbags are designed to keep you safe and prevent you from being ejected from the vehicle during an accident. However, the force of the accident or where the airbag hits you can sometimes cause unexpected injuries like broken bones.
5 Most Commonly Broken Bones in Car Accidents
Some broken bones are more common depending on the type of car accident you are in, like a fender-bender or rear-end collision versus a multi-car pile-up. Here is a list of the 5 most commonly broken bones in car accidents.
Facial Bones
Facial bones around the eyes, cheeks, and nose are small and delicate, which makes them more susceptible to injury. It is possible to suffer a broken bone to the nose or cheek, especially if you hit your head on the dashboard, steering wheel, or another part of the car. You may also sustain an injury when the airbag deploys if it makes contact with your head and face or if it deploys improperly.
The Clavicle
The clavicle is more commonly known as the collarbone, which is the bone that runs from your shoulder across the top of your chest. The clavicle is commonly damaged in car accidents because it is sensitive to injury if the shoulder or chest is impacted. If you were rear-ended, then the force of the car can fling your body forward and cause you to strain against the seat belt. The pressure of the seat belt across your chest and clavicle can actually cause it to fracture. Similarly, if you hit your shoulder against part of the car, it can force an injury to the clavicle as well.
Arm Bones
The wrist and arm bones are also commonly affected by a car accident because of the natural instinct to reach out and brace yourself. In the event of an unexpected wreck, your arms may also flail around and make contact with parts of the car, like a window or dashboard, which can lead to a broken bone.
Leg Bones
The leg bones are the largest and strongest bones in the body, but they are still susceptible to a car accident injury. Car accidents that damage the structure of your car can lead to your legs getting pinned by the dashboard or door frame. You can also injure your knee joint and even break the bones that connect there if your knee hits the dashboard or other part of the car hard enough.
The Spine
Finally, it is possible to fracture the vertebrae in your spine due to a car accident. Spinal damage should always be taken very seriously because it can affect your health and lead to long-term impairment.
Our car accident doctors at AICA Orthopedics in Tucker can help treat your broken bones or other injuries sustained in a car accident. If you live in Tucker and are looking for a “car accident doctor near me,” visit us to learn more about how we can help heal quickly and fully recover.