Abdominal Pain After an Auto Accident
Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons why people visit the doctor. Unfortunately, abdominal pain can also be one of the hardest symptoms to narrow down into a diagnosis. In an auto accident, the abdomen is a common source of injury. Whether it is a collision with the steering wheel, an injury caused by the seatbelt, or even a penetrating wound, the abdomen is an easy target. There are numerous reasons why someone might develop abdominal pain, and it is essential to separate the life-threatening causes from the minor ones. In a study published on Up To Date:
- Close to 10 percent of all visits to emergency rooms in the United States are due to abdominal pain.
- Unfortunately, about a quarter of these individuals will never know why their abdomen is bothering them.
- About twenty percent of people who are discharged from the emergency room without a diagnosis will not have an improvement in their pain within two weeks.
- Life-threatening causes of abdominal pain are far more common in the elderly than in their younger counterparts.
- In individuals over 65 years of age, about a third of those presenting for abdominal pain will be diagnosed with a surgical emergency.
Individuals who visit an emergency room for abdominal pain after an auto accident could require emergency surgery.
Differentiating Causes of Abdominal Pain: Location Matters
If an individual presents to an emergency room with abdominal pain, one of the most important factors is going to be the location of the pain. The abdomen is home to many organs such as the liver, the spleen, the pancreas, the intestines, and pain in the abdomen can even be caused by reproductive and respiratory issues. Therefore, the location of the pain will help the doctor figure out which organ is causing problems. Some of the examples include:
Right Upper Quadrant Pain: This could be due to issues with the liver, the gallbladder, or even pneumonia on the right side of the chest.
Left Upper Quadrant Pain: Pain in this area could signal a problem with the spleen or pneumonia on the left side of the chest.
The Middle: Also called the epigastric region, pain in this location is often due to issues with the stomach or the pancreas.
Right Lower Quadrant: This is the classic location for appendicitis as well as issues such as ovarian torsion or testicular torsion.
Left Lower Quadrant: Pain in this location is often due to diverticulitis. It could also be due to ovarian or testicular torsion.
Some of these issues could be surgical emergencies.
Watch YouTube Video: Differential Diagnosis of Abdominal Pain According to Abdominal Regions. The educational video below identifies abdominal pain according to different regions in the abdomen and provides the differential diagnosis of each pain.
Causes of Abdominal Pain: Surgical Emergencies
Examples of surgical emergencies located in the abdomen following a severe motor vehicle collision include:
- A rupture of the gallbladder
- A splenic rupture
- Appendicitis
- Diverticulitis
- A penetrating wound of the abdomen
- Possible rupture of one or more lobes of the liver
- Ovarian or testicular torsion
- A rupture of the small or large intestine
- Internal bleeding
Of note, this list is far from complete. If there is any concern that the individual has a surgical abdomen, rapid imaging is typically used to localize the problem. Then, once identified, the surgeon is summoned. Many of these problems are accompanied by a prolonged recovery process.
Aking a Personal Injury Lawyer for Help
Abdominal pain could be relatively minor or could be caused by a surgical emergency. It is important for everyone who has abdominal pain following a severe accident to seek medical care immediately. After receiving care, it is prudent to meet with a personal injury attorney in Sacramento. Some of the help that an injury lawyer can provide includes:
- Reviewing the accident records to ensure that nothing has been missed.
- Meeting with financial institutions to make sure that all of the benefits are paid out in a timely fashion.
- Pursuing damages related to the accident, any injuries, and emotional distress.
- Taking a case to trial when needed.
Families need to know that help is available following a severe traumatic accident. Nobody should ever have to face this situation alone. Speak with a Sacramento personal injury lawyer today. You and your family could be owed a financial settlement.
Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Attorney in Sacramento. Abdominal pain following a serious car accident could be a sign of a medical emergency. If you or a loved one has required emergent abdominal surgery after a major accident, call me when you are able at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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