A catastrophic injury has profound and far-reaching effects on your life. This serious injury can leave you with permanent bodily damage, changing your quality of life and robbing you of your independence. It is important to understand what catastrophic injuries are and their causes, so you can prevent them or seek effective treatment when they arise. Also, this will help you understand your legal recourse. If you are seeking compensation for a catastrophic injury, click here to get the legal advice you need. Below are the different kinds of catastrophic injuries:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
These injuries develop when your head is subjected to a forceful blow, jolt, or bump. Moderate and serious TBIs are usually accompanied by symptoms like brain bleeds and extended loss of consciousness. TBIs can occur due to varied reasons. Falls, especially among seniors and young kids, are the main cause of a TBI, usually leading to long-term health problems. Other causes of TBIs include vehicular accidents, sports injuries, and acts of violence like gunshot wounds or assaults.
After a TBI, the journey is usually long and fraught with difficulties. A TBI can lead to long-term consequences like cognitive deficits such as difficulty concentrating and memory loss, headaches, and depression. According to Edmonton First Aid, severe brain injuries need to be addressed as soon as possible by medical professionals and shouldn’t pass as unnoticed.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord serves as the primary conduit to transmit signs between your brain and other body parts. Damage to the spinal cord can lead to devastating effects such as paralysis. Rehabilitation programs for spinal cord injuries are designed to maximize your quality of life and independence, integrating occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy.
Amputations
These injuries stem from a serious catastrophic injury category, with causes that stem from traumatic accidents and medical necessities. Usually, trauma-induced amputations result from events like industrial accidents, serious motor vehicle accidents, or explosions. Medical amputations may be necessary to stop the spread of an infection get rid of cancerous growth, or address circulatory problems.
Serious Burns and Disfigurement
Burns are classified based on their size and depth, with a first-degree burn impacting your skin’s outer layer and a third-degree burn extending through each skin layer, possibly damaging underlying organs, muscles, and bones.
Catastrophic burns usually occur due to incidents like chemical exposure, electrical accidents, and fires and explosions. Recovering from serious burns is complex, involving acute medical care, psychological support, and long-term rehabilitation. The rehabilitation stage can be long, with physical therapy meant to maintain your mobility and prevent contractures. Also, psychological support is an important part of your recovery because you may struggle with problems in your body image and the trauma of the accident that caused your burns.
