Automobile accidents
Automobile accidents cause the body to accept a lot
of energy in a very short period of time (high velocity).
Although this may result in a fracture, high velocity
injuries are much more likely to damage soft tissues
(muscles, ligaments and tendons). These soft tissue
injuries do not show up well on any imaging study,
so the patient’s x-rays or other diagnostic studies
are often normal.
Treatment is largely conservative care and typically
consists of:
-
An active physical therapy routine of stretching,
strengthening, and aerobic conditioning.
-
Non-prescription medications, such as non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) or acetaminophen,
may be used to decrease pain
-
If the pain is severe, prescription narcotic pain
medications may be used for a short time (the first
one to two weeks)
Most injuries will heal, although it may take a considerable
amount of time (e.g. one to two years).
By: Peter
F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
September 8, 1999
Updated February 28, 2001
|
|
