Internal Organ Damage

Our bodies are devised of a complex network of muscles, veins, bones, and organs. Damage to this system, especially internal organs, can require costly medical treatment and long-term care. Internal organ damage is often associated with deep lacerations and extreme force. Internal organ damage can be life-threatening as well, but the symptoms sometimes do not show immediately––as with all injuries, it depends on the facts and circumstances.

Damage to your internal organs can occur through a number of ways that can give rise to a personal injury claim or lawsuit, least of which include:

• Assault
• Auto accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Defective products
• Dog bites and animal attacks
• Nursing home accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Sporting accidents
• Swimming pool accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Many others.

Types of Internal Organ Damage

Your organs are mostly protected or insulated by bones and muscles, and this is generally enough protection when you slip and fall. When the force is strong enough or the cut is deep enough, bones and muscles may not offer enough protection, and your organs can be damaged. Here are the three basic types of how organs are damaged.

1. Penetrating wounds are caused by foreign objects that penetrate the body deep enough that the laceration cuts blood vessels as well as cuts into an organ. Sharp objects like glass or steel are often the culprit but so ribs. When the force is strong enough to break a rib, the rib can penetrate an organ. When the organs are pierced, you will suffer bleeding, both internal and external in cases of penetrating wounds. Without immediate medical attention, the injury can threaten your life.

2. Blunt force trauma occurs when your body collides with something else (typically at high speeds), and the internal organs are bruised, crushed, or torn. The impact can cause internal bleeding. These types of accidents are easily caused in auto accidents, but the problem is this: the internal organ damage may not produce recognizable symptoms until after the fact. Your body is loaded with adrenaline after the initial impact, and this adrenaline can mask signs of internal organ damage. If the pressure was strong enough, it’s a good idea to always see a medical professional for an exam.

3. Decelerating force occurs when your body is thrown forwards, backward, or sideways, and when this happens, your organs collide with muscles and bones. This collision can erupt blood vessels and lead to internal bleeding.

Complications of Organ Damage

If you’ve been in an accident and internal organ damage is not immediately noticeable, you should still consider a medical examination. Tell the doctor about any accident you were in to help the doctor understand what injuries you may have that do not yet show up. If you experience any of the following after an accident, you should definitely seek medical attention:

• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness, light-headedness
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Bruising of the chest or abdomen area, especially large and deep purple bruises
• Abdominal, lower back, or leg pain
• Abdominal swelling
• Irregular heartbeat
• Irregular blood pressure
• Blood in your urine
• Worsening of symptoms.

These symptoms can indicate internal organ damage as well as a serious infection. Treatment is necessary. This could include intravenous fluids, blood transfusions, or surgery. Sometimes imaging tests, like ultrasounds or CT scans, are necessary to understand the severity of the organ damage and identify exactly where the internal bleeding is located. If internal organ damage isn’t immediately recognizable, then observation of the victim is required––if there is internal bleeding or organ damage, it could worsen or it could heal on its own.

Serious Risks & Complications

Damage to your kidney, lungs, liver, spleen, and/or heart can be accompanied by long-term or lifelong problems. In some cases, you may need a transplant. The most serious types of internal organ damage or internal bleeding that can result in life-threatening complications include:

• Head trauma, like intracranial hemorrhage
• Bleeding around the lungs
• Bleeding around the heart
• Tears in large blood vessels, like the aorta, superior and inferior vena cava, and the latter’s major branches)
• Perforation or lacerations of the liver, spleen, or other organs in the abdomen area.