Blood Clot Formation in Traumatic Accidents
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. When someone is involved in a traumatic accident as a result of a fall or a car crash, there are numerous injuries that someone could sustain. Among the common injuries are scrapes, bruises, and even fractures, however, blood clots also present a serious problem that deserves attention.
A group of medical professionals put together a review study regarding just how blood clots form in a traumatic accident and the consequences of these clots. Typically, blood clots form as a result of years of poor diet, lack of exercise, and an unfortunate coincidence of genetics. Over time, the level of cholesterol increases until a blood clot forms on one of the many blood vessels in the body leading to a heart attack or stroke. However, blood clots can also form as a result of a traumatic injury. When someone is involved in a car accident or suffers a slip and fall injury, there is the potential for someone to sustain a bone fracture. While some bone fractures could be small, other bone fractures could occur in the long bones of the body, such as the humerus or the femur. If these bones are broken, their contents could be released into the bloodstream. These contents include bone marrow, cholesterol crystals, and numerous other substances that affect the body’s blood vessels with potential sources of obstruction. As these substances start to build up in the blood, they could lead to the formation of a blood clot.
Diagnosis of Blood Clots
The diagnosis of any blood clot starts with detecting the symptoms. Depending on the location of the blood clot within the body, the symptoms will vary. If there is a blood clot in the arm or leg, the presenting symptom could be only pain. A blood clot in the heart called a heart attack, typically presents with crushing chest pain and a drop in the body’s oxygen level. A blood clot in one of the pulmonary arteries, termed a pulmonary embolism, could present similarly. If there is any suspicion of a blood clot, the individual will likely receive an electrocardiogram (EKG) that measures the amount of strain on the heart. Clots in the heart or lung will create abnormalities on the EKG that a trained medical professional can detect. Next, the individual will be taken for imaging that will try to identify the location of the clot so that it can be removed and treated.
Treatment Options for a Blood Clot
After the clot has been diagnosed, treatment can begin. The ultimate question will be whether or not the individual with the blood clot will require surgery. If the clot has been detected quickly, sometimes, the clot can be treated with medication. In many situations, the individual will be taken to the cardiac catheterization lab where a wire will be inserted into the body’s blood vessels. Under imaging, the wire will be snaked up to the location of the clot, where the wire can be used to pull out the clot and restore blood flow to the body. Quick detection of these clots is important because failure to do so could lead to wrongful death. Those who have sustained a severe medical complication such as a blood clot should speak with an experienced attorney to learn more about the options available to them. The difficulties of a blood clot can be severe, and individuals could require expensive medical care.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. When someone has sustained injuries in a traumatic accident, the complications could be severe. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries from an accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
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