A crush injury is a significant occupational risk for people employed in construction, manufacturing, and other industries that rely on the use of heavy machinery and equipment. These types of injuries, if severe, can be difficult to treat and may cause long-term or permanent damage.

What is a Crush Injury?

The term “crush injury” includes any type of injury caused by excessive force on a body part. These injuries are common in industries such as construction and manufacturing because large machinery is used, and the misuse of this equipment can cause workers to be crushed. As a result of a crush injury, an employee may suffer from harm such as muscle and tissue damage, nerve damage, bone fractures, and lacerations.

Crush Injury Treatment

Crush injuries must be treated as soon as possible to minimize damage. If you witness a crush injury occur, call 911 and provide assistance.

Following a crush injury, you can help a victim by:

• Seeking the assistance of first responders and medical professionals

• Removing the crushing object

• Stopping any bleeding and applying a bandage

• Limiting their movement and providing stabilization

Depending on the severity of a crush injury, a professional may need to provide immediate assistance by carefully removing a body part from under the crushing object. In any crush injury situation, proceed with caution.

Once a crush injury victim is able to receive medical treatment, their path to recovery may involve a variety of different treatment options. A doctor can provide individualized advice about what a victim’s healing will entail. The body part that has been crushed, the weight of the crushing object, and the length of time a person was crushed will all affect the injuries that are caused and the resulting treatment. Complications can also occur with crush injuries. Surgery, amputation, stitches, cell and nerve repair, oxygen therapy, and other methods are all potential treatment options a crush injury victim may require to heal.

How Long Does it Take for a Crush Injury to Heal?

The recovery timeline for a crush injury will depend on the severity of the injury, the specific harm that was sustained, and the treatment that is required. For especially severe cases that require reconstructive surgery or amputation, the recovery timeline will vary depending on how surgery and other treatment will be administered. Less severe cases, such as those in which a bone is broken but not completely destroyed, will heal similarly to any broken bone.

It is difficult to predict an accurate timeline for crush injury healing because the circumstances of these types of injuries can vary so widely. Your doctor can provide the most accurate picture of how long your crush injury will take to heal, and what your treatment plan will involve.

The Alvandi Law Group, P.C. legal team can help you recover the benefits you deserve following an on-the-job accident. Contact us to discuss the details of your workers’ compensation case.