Severe Shoulder Injuries from Queens Car Accidents
SEVERE SHOULDER INJURIES FROM QUEENS CAR ACCIDENTS
| Apr 14, 2020 | Car Accidents, Injuries, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury |
QUEENS CAR ACCIDENTS CAUSING SEVERE SHOULDER INJURIES
Motor vehicle accidents can cause many injuries. Of these, shoulder injuries are very common and can be debilitating. The shoulder is a complex joint that is made up on many bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles, all of which can be injured in a Queens car accident. These injuries can be painful and life changing. Most people do not realize how important their shoulder is until they have an injury that prevents them from using it. This is particularly true if a person needs shoulder surgery such as a scope which results in months or even years of pain, physical therapy, and changes to one’s daily life.
Here at COHEN & COHEN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS, P.C. , our experienced Queens car accident lawyers have handled many different types of personal injuries accidents resulting in severe shoulder injuries. This includes Queens car accidents resulting in serious damages resulting in scope surgeries. We have recently recovered $250,000, $200,000, and $194,500 for our clients in scope surgery personal injury cases. (Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.) If you or a loved one suffered severe shoulder injuries due to the negligence of another person, business, or government actor (federal, state, county, or municipal), ask us for a FREE consultation to learn how we can help you today.
BASIC SHOULDER ANATOMY
The shoulder is a ball and socket joint and is the most mobile joint in the body. The humerus, or arm bone, makes up the “ball” while the scapula (shoulder blade) and clavicle (collar bone) make up the “socket.” These bones are connected by strong connective tissue called ligaments. The ability to move the shoulder comes from its many muscles, including the rotator cuff muscles.
The job of the rotator cuff muscles is to maintain the stability of the shoulder by keeping the “ball” centered in the “socket.” It is composed of 4 muscles: the subscapularis, supraspinatus, teres minor, and infraspinatus. Another component that contributes to the stability of the shoulder is the glenoid labrum. This is a ring of fibrocartilaginous tissue that deepens the socket, promoting stability during movement.
The two most commonly injured parts of the shoulder are either the rotator cuffs or the glenoid labrum which can result in a SLAP tear. This is particularly true in motor vehicle accidents, especially large trucking accidents with 18 wheelers, big rigs, and other box trucks.
TYPE OF SEVERE SHOULDER INJURIES FROM QUEENS CAR ACCIDENTS
Due to the complexity of the shoulder, there are a variety of injuries that can occur to the shoulder from a motor vehicle accident. The shoulder is composed of many parts and each of those is prone to injury. Some common injuries include:
- Arthroscopic surgeries or “scope” surgeries
- Humerus fracture
- Clavicle fracture
- Scapula fracture
- Rotator cuff tear
- Biceps tear
- Labral tear including a SLAP tear
- Shoulder dislocation
- Shoulder separation
- Brachial plexus injury
A CLOSER LOOK AT ROTATOR CUFF TEARS IN QUEENS CAR ACCIDENTS
A very common injury after motor vehicle accidents are rotator cuff tears. These are difficult to diagnose, frequently requiring an MRI to appropriately identify them. Symptoms of a torn rotator cuff include lateral shoulder pain, pain with movement, inability to lift arm overhead, and decreased strength in the shoulder.
Initial treatment is conservative in nature and usually entails oral anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid injections into the shoulder joint itself, and physical therapy. For cases that do not respond to conservative treatment, surgery to repair the torn muscles is an option. This is most often done with the use of a camera called an arthroscopy and 3-4 small incisions in the shoulder. This is known as a scope surgery, which our Queens car accident lawyers have familiarity with handling.
The muscle tendon is repaired by stitching it together using surgical thread which is anchored into the humerus bone. After surgery, a sling is worn at all times for anywhere from 2-6 weeks and physical therapy is started in the same time frame. The goal of physical therapy is to restore full range of motion and full strength and can be expected to last 3-6 months depending on the size of the tear. It may take up a full year to recover full from a rotator cuff repair surgery.
DID YOU SUFFER SEVERE SHOULDER INJURIES AFTER A QUEENS CAR ACCIDENT? WE CAN HELP
Here at COHEN & COHEN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS, P.C. , our experienced Queens car accident lawyers know that shoulder injuries are some of the most debilitating injuries that a victim of a motor vehicle accident could sustain. This means that victims may have increased pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, lost future earnings if unable to return to the same job, loss of consortium with loved ones, physical therapy costs, surgery costs, and other bills and expenses due to the negligence of another. If you or a loved one suffered severe shoulder injuries in a motor vehicle accident, call for a free consultation to learn what your rights to compensation may be by calling (718) 275-7779 for a FREE case evaluation or use our convenient and easy-to-use contact us box available here.
