7 Types of Back Injuries That Result From an Accident

Accidents can happen to anyone at any time. The average citizen must be well prepared for what to do when they are involved in an accident. They must also be aware of specific parts of the body that, when hurt, can cause irreversible damage to the victim.

The spine forms the core structural support for the entire body. Back injuries sustained in an accident often carry painful consequences. The back injury lawyers at the Bruning Law Firm use their many decades of experience to help injury victims recover compensation for all types of spinal damage.

Different types of back damage may occur depending on factors like the mechanism of injury, areas affected, and severity. Common classification categories for back injuries resulting from an accident are discussed in the sections below.

Common Causes of Back Injuries

Back trauma frequently arises from:

• Motor vehicle crashes
• Slip and falls
• Workplace accidents
• Acts of violence/assault

What Are the 7 Types of Back Injuries That Result From Accident

From car wrecks to falls to workplace accidents, many things can injure your back severely. These categories depend on what spinal pieces get hurt and how badly. The groups of accident-related back injuries are:

1.   Soft Tissue Injuries

Sprains, strains, contusions, or whiplash damage the muscles, tendons, and ligaments along the spinal column rather than the bones. These soft tissue injuries cause localized pain, stiffness, swelling, and bruising. Treatments like rest, medication, physical therapy, or chiropractic care usually help soft tissue damage resolve over weeks or months.

2.   Vertebral Fractures

The bony vertebrae stack up, and the backbone cracks under extreme accident stress. Compression fractures collapse the front wedge shape, while burst fractures shatter bone shards. These fractures invariably cause severe localized pain and require immobilization plus possible surgery to promote proper long-term healing.

3.   Herniated Discs

Discs cushioning each spinal joint may rupture or bulge beyond containment from the force of an accident. Leaked disc material irritates surrounding nerves, potentially producing symptoms like numbness, weakness, or shooting nerve pain down the arms and legs. Herniated discs often heal through conservative care but may need injections or decompression surgery if severe.

4.   Spinal Cord Injury

Direct blows to the spine risk pinching, bruising, or even severing the delicate spinal cord housed inside. In addition to potential paralysis below the affected area, traumatic spinal cord injury causes loss of bodily functions related to breathing, heart rate, digestion, blood pressure control, and more, with catastrophic life impacts.

5.   Cauda Equina Syndrome

This rare but serious condition arises from the severe compression of nerve bundles at the base of the spinal cord, called the cauda equina. In addition to excruciating pain, it presents specific red flag symptoms like saddle anesthesia, bowel or bladder dysfunction, and lower extremity weakness, which constitute a surgical emergency requiring immediate decompression.

6.   Spinal Fracture-Dislocations

High-impact collisions can dislodge or shatter spinal bones. The weight of the upper body above shifts vertebrae out of alignment, crushing or lacerating the spinal cord while severely destabilizing the spine. These complex fractures usually demand intensive surgical treatment plans.

7.   Chronic Pain Syndrome

Even after technically healing, some back injury patients still endure chronic neuropathic discomfort and restricted mobility. Psychological distress, depression, and reduced quality of life frequently accompany long-term spinal pain syndromes rooted in accident trauma. Ongoing pain care with specialists is often necessary.

Obtaining a Timely Post-Injury Medical Evaluation

Urgent medical assessment is critical if an accident results in a potential back injury. Early detection and treatment reduce the risk of permanent issues. Even minor complaints like localized pain or numbness after an accident call for immediate medical check-ups. Early expert consultation increases the likelihood of a long-term recovery.

Major red flags to get checked out quickly include radiating pain, weakness affecting movement, tingling, bladder problems, and saddle anesthesia. Catching spinal injuries increases the chances of patients regaining total health and avoiding lifelong disability.