When you are involved in a car accident, the possibility of internal bleeding is a serious concern. There are two main types of trauma that may lead to internal bleeding. These include:
- Blunt Trauma: Occurs when a body part collides with something else, typically at a high speed. In this case, blood vessels may be torn or crushed by the force.
- Penetrating Trauma: Occurs when a foreign object penetrates the body, resulting in a tear in one or more blood vessels.
Either one of these types of trauma may occur as a result of a car accident, though blunt trauma is more commonly associated with this type of accident. Regardless of the type of trauma that causes the injury, internal bleeding can be serious and even life-threatening. In many cases, surgery is required to correct the damage.
Symptoms of Internal Bleeding
There are many symptoms associated with internal bleeding. These include:
- The development of a large area of purple colored skin, resulting from bleeding into the skin and soft tissues.
- Abdominal pain or swelling, typically caused by trauma to the liver or spleen.
- Pain, swelling and tightness in the leg, which often occurs as the result of a fracture to the thigh bone that has led to internal bleeding in the thigh.
- Light-headedness, fainting or dizziness, which generally occurs in response to blood loss.
- Headache, loss of consciousness and seizures, typically caused by internal bleeding in the brain.
All of these signs should be treated as an emergency and require a medical evaluation. If you have suffered from an injury due to a car accident, contact Advanced Spine & Rehab to learn more about how we can help with your recovery.