How Dangerous Are New Truck Drivers?

How long an arm injury persists varies from person to person and there are a variety of factors that influence the healing rate, including prompt treatment.

How long will an arm injury last after a motor vehicle accident? What factors influence a car accident victim's ability to heal and regain their strength and full range of motion? As with any physical injury, the answer to how long an injury will persist varies from person to person. However, there are common factors that influence the healing rate. These include receiving prompt and appropriate treatment, the individual's age at the time of injury, their overall health, the presence of underlying medical conditions, their diet, and adherence to their physical therapy regimen.

Types of Arm Injury Inherent to Automobile Accidents in Kansas

Sprains and strains are common in motor vehicle accidents. These can occur when the individual attempts to brace themselves for impact. These are rated as either Grade 1, Grade 2, or Grade 3, with Grade 3 sprains being the most severe. Often, sprains to the wrist, elbow, or arm will cause bruising, swelling, and decreased range of motion. Typical treatments for all sprains include immobilizing the arm so it can rest, application of ice/cold packs, and elevating the arm. In most cases, these injuries will heal without additional treatment within 2-3 weeks.

Broken radius, broken ulna, and broken elbows are also common. In higher speed collisions, the humerus may also break. These injuries require immobilizing the broken bone for a period of four to six weeks. In more severe cases where the bone suffers multiple fractures or breaks the skin, surgical intervention may be necessary. For most people, these injuries will heal within three to six months.

The most fragile bone in the arm is the wrist. When an accident occurs, the wrist can suffer significant trauma as the force of impact passes from the hand and radiates into the wrist. This transfer of energy can cause a wide range of injuries to the wrist, including intra-articular fractures that encompass the joint, extra-articular fractures that do not extend into the joint, open fractures that break through the skin, and comminuted fractures that result in two or more breaks within the wrist.