Getting into a car crash can lead to numerous injuries, and many of them have the potential to have serious impacts on your life.
Crush injuries make up some of these potentially impactful issues. But what are crush injuries, and how do they affect the body?
Types of crush injuries
Medline Plus takes a close look at the impact a crush injury can have. First of all, what is a crush injury? In short, they involve any application of force or pressure to an area of the body for any amount of time. For example, a truck running over someone’s foot does not last long, but it is still a crush injury. A person getting trapped under rubble also constitutes a crush injury of a much lengthier proportion.
Crush injuries often fall into one of two categories: injuries to the trunk or torso area, and injuries to extremities or limbs. Both hold equally serious consequences and can affect the body in different ways.
Impacts from limb and trunk injuries
For example, with crush injuries to the limbs – especially the hands and feet – it is possible and even probable for blood circulation to stay cut off long enough that the tissue begins to necrotize and die. This can cause gangrene to take hold, which may result in the affected limb needing amputation.
On the other hand, trunk injuries often impact the organs, which cannot handle the sudden influx or depletion of oxygen and blood. Organs may shut down or fail, leading to a quickly critical situation that could threaten your life.
Quick action and proper treatment is the best way to save a life and minimize damage when dealing with crush injuries.
