An orthopedic injury is one that involves the musculoskeletal system. In other words, it is any injury to the muscles and tendons that support bones, ligaments, cartilage and joints. A bone fracture is a common result of motor vehicle accidents. Broken bones can be very slow to heal. Sometimes a broken bone can cause injury to surrounding tissue. Hardware such as plates, screws, and nails are sometimes used to repair bone damage. Such foreign objects in the body often lead to further discomfort and may require more time for recovery. The hardware may also cause range of motion to become limited, limiting activities that a person may have previously enjoyed.
Complications often arise for injuries located at the hip, ankle, or knee – or any other joint. For breaks that include bones in the legs, a person can be in a wheelchair for many months. Because the musculoskeletal system is so complex, injuries take a long time to diagnose properly. Effective treatment cannot begin until a proper diagnosis is made. The sooner you have a personal injury lawyer working for you, the faster you can focus on your recovery, which may take years to complete.