Some car accident victims in Nebraska sustain an injury called a sternum fracture. Although this injury only affects about 5 to 8 percent of people who experience chest trauma, sternum fractures can be extremely dangerous. Because the sternum is part of the rib cage circle that protects the heart and lungs, a sternum fracture could result in life-threatening injuries to these vital organs.
About 25 to 45 percent of people who sustain sternum fractures die as a result of their injuries. Some of the injuries associated with a sternum fracture include punctured lungs, ruptured aorta, cardiac contusions and spinal cord injuries. A sternum fracture could also give rise to a collapse of the lung, pneumonia and infection in the bone.
How a sternum fracture is treated will greatly depend on how severe the injury is and whether any organs have been damaged. Sternum fractures are usually accompanied by fractures in the ribs. Aside from life-saving treatments that must be administered for organ injuries, recovery from a sternum fracture requires around 10 to 24 weeks of rest. During recovery, the injured victim will likely require pain medication, and they will be advised not to lift, carry or push anything heavy.
A person who has sustained a sternum fracture in a car accident is likely to suffer from a significant financial setback during their recovery period. To seek compensation for this loss of income, many car accident victims choose to file a personal injury lawsuit. An attorney can help an accident victim in attempting to recover damages for the economic losses that they have sustained, including the costs of required medical care as well as compensation to replace wages that were lost as a result of an inability to resume employment.
