Pursuing a Spinal Evaluation After an Auto Accident

Every year, approximately 400 million drivers and their passengers are at a potential risk of being involved in an unfortunate automobile accident. An estimated 10 percent of these individuals will experience injuries and property damages from a car wreck every 10 years.

Fortunately, a large majority of these auto accidents only result in minimal property damages and minor injuries. However, a considerable amount of individuals who’ve suffered an affliction to their personal health and wellness may require medical involvement to determine if they’ve experienced underlying injuries or developed any possible conditions as a result of the auto collision. In fact, anyone who has been in a moderate or high velocity automobile accident should be evaluated by a spine specialist, such as a chiropractor or even an orthopedic surgeon.

Spinal Injuries from Auto Collisions

Almost half of all spinal injuries occur due to an auto accident. High speed automobile collisions can have devastating consequences on the overall health of the spine and its surrounding structures. If the spinal cord becomes damaged, it can cause irreparable damage, even paralysis. Spinal vertebrae displacement or fractures can cause impingement or compression against the spinal cord, which may lead to focal weakness or numbness. Spinal cord contusions from a vertebral bone dislocation or fragment may cause injury to the delicate blood vessels surrounding the spine, often resulting in permanent disability.

Direct trauma to the spine caused after an individual is involved in an auto accident can result in long-term disability or paralysis if not managed effectively. If you have been in a major car accident, receiving a spinal evaluation is urgently important. While most common symptoms, including neck and back pain, can take up to 24 hours, even days and weeks to manifest, if no noticeable symptoms develop, it’s still important to seek an immediate evaluation from a qualified healthcare professional who specializes in spine care.

How Minor Accidents Can Cause Spinal Injury

Symptoms from trauma during a car wreck may not show up for hours, even days after the accident. For instance, a concussion can develop symptoms as many as 24 to 48 hours after the initial incident. Whiplash functions in the same manner. Even if you do not feel symptoms immediately after a car accident, symptoms of whiplash may eventually develop several hours to various days after the motor vehicle accident, commonly characterized by neck pain and headaches.

Whiplash is caused by a sudden, back-and-forth jerk of the head, in any direction, often caused by rear end or front end collisions. Unfortunately, half of all people who experience whiplash may have neck pain symptoms for at least one year after the accident, if not treated immediately or accordingly by a healthcare professional.

If you have symptoms such as neck pain, muscle tightness, muscle spasms, headaches focused in the back area of the head, or any difficulty moving your neck or turning your head, you may have suffered whiplash syndrome. It is fundamental to have an evaluation by a spine specialist, often referred to as a car accident doctor, a physician who is experienced in evaluating car accident injuries. Be sure to seek care from a locally experienced and qualified spine specialist, such as Dr. Dean Smith, orthopedic surgeon, to achieve the best possible care for your automobile injuries.

Dr. Dean Smith is a highly regarded, local, orthopedic surgeon who performs minimally invasive spinal surgeries for those whose option for recovery lies in this procedure. Minimally invasive spinal surgeries use a very small incision which reduces damage to surrounding tissues and muscles as compared to traditional surgical techniques. Additionally, this type of procedure can reduce pain and recovery time after the surgery. It’s important to seek the proper care for your specific needs.

Minimally Invasive Spine Seminar

Spine Surgeons for Car Accident Injury

Spine surgery is not always needed after an accident, chiropractic care and physical therapy can effectively help restore an individual’s spinal health after experiencing injury or aggravating a previous condition, however, until you are evaluated by a spine specialist, one can often not be certain. Correspondingly, not every healthcare professional has the necessary experience and qualifications to properly diagnose and treat the injuries or conditions associated with motor vehicle accidents, such as whiplash or more serious spine damages.

When seeking the most appropriate spine care after suffering an automobile accident, it’s essential to find a provider who’s had years of practice evaluating and treating those who’ve been harmed in a traffic collision. While only a small number of these patients may eventually need the services of a spinal surgeon, seeking the knowledge of the right orthopedic surgeon who can provide a comprehensive spinal evaluation to formulate an appropriate treatment plan can help provide the individual with the proper peace of mind they deserve.

Early Intervention After an Auto Injury

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Being involved in an automobile accident can result in property damages and injuries, such as whiplash, which can challenge an individual’s lifestyle. Although symptoms may not immediately develop, it’s fundamental for people to receive a spinal evaluation after a traffic collision to determine the presence of any possible health complications and follow through with the proper treatment.

For more information, please feel free to contact us at 915-850-0900 . 

By Dr. Alex Jimenez