Teen Recovering From Traumatic Injury
I’m Ed Smith, a Folsom personal injury lawyer. A trip away from home last July ended up with a serious injury to a Folsom teen, who was paralyzed when attempting a backflip. Six months later, Ashton Fritz, 17, is still recovering. The good news is that he has regained some upper extremity movement. However, he still has a long way to go. My thoughts and prayers are with Ashton that he recover completely in the near future.
What Happened
The accident occurred after Fritz, who was a senior at Vista Del Lago, went to attend a church camp in San Diego. He, along with his friends, were in the dorm when some of them tugged a mattress off a bed. Fritz was asked if he had ever done a back flip. He said that he had done them in water and a trampoline. This time, he didn’t complete the backflip and landed on his head, causing a traumatic injury to his spinal cord and back.
Medical Treatment
Fritz’ father, when interviewed, said he received a phone call from his son’s surgeon, informing him that the teen required immediate surgery because his life was endangered by the injuries. Within the following four days, Fritz was taken into surgery three times. In addition, he was placed in traction. Afterward, he was transferred to Colorado for rehabilitative therapy at a hospital. Now, Fritz has been able to return home to be with his family. However, he still faces continuing efforts to regain bodily functions that were lost in the accident.
Watch Youtube Video ~ Ashton Fritz the First 30 Days of Spinal Cord Injury. Learn more about Ashton, his injury and the high cost of treatment.
Traumatic Injuries
All traumatic injuries refer to those that occur suddenly and leave the individual in dire need of medical care. According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 200,000 such cases occur annually. Symptoms may be immediate or evolve over time. Most traumatic injuries require hospitalization and some form of surgical intervention. Males are affected more often than women. Symptoms of traumatic injury may include:
- Balance and coordination problems
- Inability to move or paralysis
- Anger or apathy
- Speech difficulties
- Visual disturbances or dilated pupils
- Behavioral changes such as intermittent laughing or sobbing
- Vomiting or nausea
- Muscular abnormalities
- Depression
Spinal Cord Injury
One of the most common traumatic injuries involves injury to the spinal cord. Depending on what portion of the spinal cord is injured, symptoms may include partial or total paralysis. Generally, a higher level of spinal cord injury will result in more incapacitation. For instance, a blow to the cervical spine can result in total paralysis of all areas below the area of injury. Conversely, an injury to the lumbar area of the spinal cord may cause lower extremity paralysis.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic injuries that involve the head are associated with traumatic injury to the brain. There are many types of brain injury, and some involve accumulation of blood on the surface of the brain or bleeding within the brain tissue. This can result in increased pressure on the brain. When this happens, herniation of the brain can occur. Without removing the pressure using surgical techniques, death usually follows. Brain injury often requires rehabilitative methods to aid in recovery.
Rehabilitation for Traumatic Injuries
After immediate steps are taken to treat the patient, long periods of hospitalization and rehabilitation often follow. Rehabilitation is geared toward the specific type of trauma and must commence as quickly as possible, once the patient is cleared to begin. Studies have shown that early and appropriate rehab is essential in restoring the patient’s ability to function.
Watch Youtube Video ~ Folsom Teen Returns Home After Spinal Cord Injury.
Folsom Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Folsom personal injury lawyer. Traumatic injuries can upend a family’s life both personally and financially. If your or your loved one’s accident injuries were caused by an act of negligence, you may be able to recover compensation. Call me at (916) 921-6400 in Folsom or at (800) 404-5400 if you live outside the calling area. My friendly, free advice can help.
I have handled injury cases for Folsom residents and those in surrounding areas of Northern California since 1982. In addition to personal injuries such as vehicular accidents and catastrophic injuries, I also handle cases for wrongful death.
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Million Dollar Advocates represents a group of top trial attorneys around the country with million dollar verdicts and/or settlements for prior clients. I belong to this forum as a California member.
Outcomes for cases we have handled for clients is found at Verdicts and Settlements on my website, AutoAccident.com.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/hospital-emergency-room-entrance-1636334/
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