With the increasing rate of traffic accidents year by year, cases of bone injuries have also shown a significant upward trend. From minor finger fractures to life-threatening spinal fractures, the severity of injuries varies. Correctly dealing with bone injuries, timely diagnosis and treatment will maximize the rehabilitation effect and avoid causing irreparable health problems for life.
Dr. Phang Zi Hao, an orthopaedic consultant at Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre in Klang, pointed out that traffic accidents are one of the main causes of bone injuries, and about 70% of orthopaedic cases are related to traffic accidents or other accidents.
“With the increase in the number of people and vehicles, the number of related cases caused by traffic accidents in the past year has increased by about 30%, especially motorcycle riders are far more likely to suffer serious injuries than car drivers.”
Dr. Phang revealed that these injuries include fractures, dislocations, etc., and the wounds cover open or closed injuries. The injuries are mostly concentrated in the hands, feet, spine, collarbone and pelvic bones, etc., and the severity varies.
“The most serious situation may involve spinal, neck or pelvic injuries, which can lead to lifelong disability or mobility impairment. A large amount of bleeding caused by some serious injuries will also bring life-threatening dangers.”
Avoid moving the injured
Dr. Phang Zi Hao disclosed that correct handling of bone injuries after a traffic accident is the key to avoiding its deterioration. He urged everyone not to move the injured person at the scene of the car accident, especially those with neck injuries, so as not to aggravate the patient’s injury and even cause paralysis.
“If it is necessary to move the injured person under special circumstances, it should be carried by those who have undergone first-aid training or by many people together to avoid secondary injury to the injured person. If there is a wound, it should be bandaged with gauze to stop bleeding to avoid excessive blood loss. The most important thing is to call the emergency number as soon as possible and let professional medical staff handle it.”
Dr. Phang pointed out that special attention should be paid to bone injuries in children and the elderly, because they are at a relatively higher risk than others.
“Children’s bones are still developing, and injuries or displacements may cause serious deformities, which will affect their growth. As for the elderly, because their bones are weaker, it is difficult to reconnect or heal after injury, and the risk of surgery is also higher.”
Surgical treatment or plaster fixation
He said that the treatment for bone injuries is mainly divided into two types, namely surgical treatment and plaster fixation.
“Open fractures, that is, those with bone spurs protruding from the skin and bleeding, usually require emergency surgery; while closed fractures without wounds will be treated according to the degree of bone displacement. If the bone is severely displaced, surgery is recommended; if there is no serious displacement, plaster fixation can be used.”
Dr. Phang emphasized that the most challenging cases are Grade III open fractures. These fractures are usually accompanied by broken limbs or serious injuries, requiring multidisciplinary cooperation to complete the surgery, and may require long-term hospitalization.
“Even after multiple operations, the broken limb may not be successfully reconnected. Even if the operation is successful in the end, the patient may face problems with restricted mobility or lifelong follow-up.”
Beware of the risk of bacterial infection
Dr. Phang pointed out that open fractures with protruding bones and contact with the outside world, especially Grade III fractures, are extremely vulnerable to the risk of bacterial infection, especially when surgery is delayed or the immune system is weak.
“Once bacteria are hidden inside the bone, even if a large amount of antibiotics is used, it is difficult to clear the infection, because there are no blood vessels inside the bone, and antibiotics cannot reach these avascular areas. In this case, the patient needs to use antibiotics for a long time, sometimes 3 to 6 months, or even up to a year to completely control it.”
“If the bacterial infection of the bone cannot be effectively controlled, the bacteria may spread to the whole body, and in severe cases, amputation may be required to prevent the infection from spreading.”
Therefore, Dr. Phang suggested that patients should treat the wound immediately after being injured, and receive appropriate treatment. In addition, it is also necessary to pay attention to the patient’s other health conditions, such as diabetic patients or other groups with chronic diseases, and control the condition well to avoid worsening of the infection.
“Diabetic patients need to control their blood sugar; those with potential diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV, may aggravate the risk of infection. Therefore, timely physical examination and treatment are necessary.”
6-hour golden treatment period
Dr. Phang specially reminded that the golden treatment time for open fractures is 6 hours, and if it is not treated for more than 24 hours, the risk of infection will greatly increase. Bacterial infection not only delays the recovery period, but may even endanger life in severe cases.
In addition, he pointed out that because some patients can still walk normally or do not see obvious wounds after being injured, they tend to take it lightly and ignore possible fractures or ligament problems, such as injuries to the fingers and other parts.
Although these minor injuries usually do not pose a threat to life, they may lead to problems such as bone displacement and inflexible joint movement in the future.
Follow the rehabilitation plan
Dr. Phang revealed that the recovery time for common fractures in traffic accidents varies depending on the location and severity of the fracture. Generally, upper limb fractures usually take 6 to 8 weeks, while lower limb fractures take 12 to 16 weeks to return to normal life. If it is a bacterial infection, it may even take a year to fully recover. ”
“Mild fractures usually can be completely recovered without leaving any sequelae after proper treatment. As for severe fractures, even if treated in time, the possibility of completely eliminating sequelae is low, but professional intervention can significantly reduce symptoms and help patients recover basic living abilities.”
He reminded patients that they need to follow the rehabilitation plan formulated by the doctor or therapist during the recovery process of the fracture, and never change it without authorization, so as to minimize the sequelae and avoid delaying the recovery process.
“After a fracture, patients should avoid immediately resuming their original state of activity, but should rest at home to avoid aggravating the injury or affecting bone healing.”
“At the same time, maintaining good bone health in daily life is particularly important. Everyone should do more outdoor activities and get sun exposure to promote vitamin D absorption and strengthen bones. Young people should avoid sitting for a long time and participate in more activities such as running and ball games to increase bone density.”
Dr. Phang also reminded everyone that when driving, they should strictly abide by traffic rules and avoid dangerous driving. After being injured, even if there is only mild pain or limited mobility, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent minor injuries from developing into major problems.
If you have any concern, do contact us at 03-3375 7799 @ ext 7304
by Dr Phang Zi Hao, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon