Motor vehicle accidents is the top cause of injuries (fatal ones too) across the world, followed by falls – over 95% of the injuries suffered are due to these two causes. As a joints and sports clinic also specializing in trauma surgery in Mumbai, we can attest to this fact.
Motor vehicle injuries are most common among the young and falls (serious ones) are common among the elderly. In either case, the hip, knee, shoulder and hands are the most commonly affected parts of the body. In this blog let us look at the most common injuries of the hip knee, and shoulder during vehicle accidents and know what to do when someone you know is injured:
Common Injuries Associated With Vehicle Accidents: Hip, Knee & Shoulder:
Sprains/strains, tissue damage, bruises and scrapes tend to be the most common injuries while broken bones and fractures account for 10% of total injuries. More often than not it’s the knee hip and shoulder that take the major brunt associated with these injuries.
Hip Injuries During Vehicle Accidents:
In addition to concussions, cuts, bruises and whiplash, hip injuries are the most common during accidents. Fractures, dislocations, bursitis, tendonitis and sprains are the types of hip injuries that can happen during a vehicle accident (particularly car accidents). Being the most load-bearing joint in the body, any injury to the hip will seriously impact the quality of life and takes a long time to recover.
Knee Injuries During Vehicle Accidents:
The knee joint is at the highest risk during any type of accident (especially car accidents). The blunt force trauma of the collision may result in a joint twist, tear or slam against the ground, dashboard or steering wheel. Meniscus injuries, Ligament injuries (ACL, MCL, and PCL & LCL), fractures & dislocations are the most common knee injuries suffered after an accident. Bruising, inflammation or swelling, redness and warmth, popping or clicking noises, weakness or instability, fever, deformity or limited range of motion are the most common signs and symptoms of knee injuries during accidents.
Shoulder Injuries During Vehicle Accident:
Being the most mobile joint in the human body, the shoulder joint plays a central role in every aspect of our motion and this makes it more prone to injury too.
Whiplash, torn rotator cuff, fractures, dislocation, and soft tissue damage are some of the most common shoulder injuries suffered by individuals during a vehicle accident. Unlike hip and knee injuries, a shoulder injury can go unnoticed except for mild pain. The shoulder injury sometimes may only show up after a few weeks and this may prolong the treatment. So if you are experiencing tenderness, sharp pain, deep bruising, knotting, or weakness, a shoulder doctor in Mumbai must be immediately consulted.
“Vehicle incidents can be frightening and gruesome causing both physical and physiological injuries to the patient”, says the top orthopaedic doctor in Mumbai Dr Chirag Patel. In most cases, it can be hard to tell the extent of the injury after the accident so never drive the car/bike always call someone to drive instead, and call an ambulance if the injury is severe. In more cases, individuals overlook the injury thinking it is not severe which can be a huge mistake because in a few cases the adrenaline can mask the symptoms. It is always advised to consult primary care doctor after the injury for check-ups who in case of a problem may suggest you a specialist. If you are in Mumbai and are looking for an orthopaedic specialist, Dr Chirag Patel is the best orthopaedic doctor in Mumbai with an excellent track record in treating injuries related to the accident. You can contact him here: