Importance of Rehabilitation Care for Road Traffic Accident Patients
Road traffic accidents have become far more common in the past few decades. Young adults between 19-29 years of age are at more risk. According to an estimated data, 2 million people are left with physical disabilities due to accidents. Rehabilitation Centers, however, have rehabilitation programs, through which these disabilities in a road accident victim can be managed.
Traumatic brain and spinal cord injury due to Road Accident
Road accidents are responsible for 19% of brain injury and about 40% of spinal cord injury. Young adults are usually more at risk of such injuries. About 40% of these accidents lead to poor physical and mental status. Rehabilitation experts can help regain bodily functions and gain movements by coping with weakness and paralysis of limbs.
Pain management by Rehabilitation Center
Rehabilitation centers helps to manage pain by use of modalities and exercise program post-trauma that may have occurred due to Road Traffic Accidents. Many techniques are available these days for managing postoperative pain and discomfort due to phantom limb. Some of the techniques include interferential therapy and TENS therapy powered by electric currents that produce therapeutic effects.
Amputation due to Road Traffic Accident
Road traffic accidents are second leading cause of amputation. Amputation is required if the patient has lost a large amount of soft tissue or any opportunistic infection that occurs within the affected limb causing gangrene that may become fatal if left as it is. Amputation can cause disability and emotional breakdown for a person. Rehabilitation Center helps a person to mobilize again and modify his ways to perform daily activities, making him independent. It also includes psychological rehabilitation so the patient is able to set new goals and lead a life worth living.
Immobilization post Road Traffic Accident
Prolonged immobilization due to fracture, soft tissue injury or many other factors can have serious complications including restricted joint movement, weakness, and atrophy of muscles, limb swelling etc. Lower extremity immobilization may prove fatal due to a condition called deep vein thrombosis in which emboli is formed that may make its way to vital organs like lungs and clog the main artery. 2 in 1000 cases of trauma deep vein thrombosis are observed in the United States. Rehabilitation programmes are planned, keeping in mind all the complications. Different modalities like suspension beds etc are used to slowly mobilize the patient and prevent limb swelling.
Emotional distress
It is not abnormal for a person to think negative after a trauma. Whether the person will be able to walk and perform his activities properly? Will he be able to fulfill his dreams and aspirations? Especially, in cases of amputation and brain injury where the patient may become psychologically weak, psychological rehabilitation plays a crucial role to encourage the patient to work towards his recovery and goals. The patient is required to stay positive during his treatment period.
If you are a victim of road traffic accident, it is important to realize the merits of post hospitalization rehabilitation centers. Patients can recover faster from traumatic brain or spine injury, manage pain, or deal with the emotional distress of the accident or immobilization due to the road accident better with the help of a rehabilitation center.