Car accidents are not exactly rare on the Keystone State’s more than 120,000 miles of roadway. In fact, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there are about 15 automobile crashes somewhere in the commonwealth every hour. Even if you have been able to stay safe behind the wheel so far, you may eventually find yourself in a serious accident.
In any car accident, you may sustain a variety of injuries. Therefore, it is critical that you always seek a full medical examination following a collision. While comparatively rare, amputations sometimes happen in the hours, days or weeks after a wreck. If you have lost a limb, you may experience some significant complications. Here are three of them.
1. Infection
Limb amputations require serious surgery. The health risk does not end when you awaken from anesthesia, though. On the contrary, you may be at increased risk of developing a life-threatening infection. Even after your surgical wound heals, you may have to deal with ongoing infections at the amputation site.
2. Phantom pain
It may surprise you to know that you can feel pain in a limb that no longer exists. This phenomenon can take a tremendous toll on a person’s emotional state, as it can be difficult to treat. As such, you may have to learn how to cope with chronic phantom pain following an amputation.
3. Emotional trauma
After an amputation, you may face a long road to recovery. Unfortunately, even after extensive rehabilitation, you may not be able to fully enjoy life. You may also have to adjust to a different physical appearance. Each of these hardships may cause you to experience considerable emotional trauma.
Following a car accident, amputating a damaged limb may save your life. Regrettably, though, you are not out of the woods after you leave the hospital. By understanding the collateral complications that often accompany an amputation, you can better plan for addressing them.