After slipping and falling on another’s property, slip-and-fall accident injury victims must have a complete inventory of the harm they suffered. Slips and falls may cause soft-tissue injuries that require prompt medical attention and proper treatment.
Johns Hopkins Medicine gives the rundown on various soft-tissue injures. With knowledge of the different soft tissues that may sustain an injury, harmed parties and their doctors know what to look for.
Soft-tissue injury classification
Soft-tissue injuries affect tendons, muscles and ligaments. Different classifications of injuries include sprains, contusions, strains, tendonitis, stress injuries and bursitis. No matter the affected tissue or injury classification, such injuries often cause damage, pain, inflammation and bruising.
Contusions
Also known as bruises, contusions happen after blunt force trauma. When blood spreads to tissues, a person may experience discoloration, pain and swelling. Depending on injury severity, bruised slip-and-fall victims may need rest, compression, ice and elevation to experience relief, or they could require medical attention for severe contusions.
Sprains
If slipping and falling cause the body to twist or wrench, a person may experience a partial ligament tear called a sprain. This soft-tissue injury often affects the ankles, wrists and knees. At-home treatments for sprains are the same as those for contusions. Those who suffer serious sprains may need surgery.
Strains
Intense stretching, overuse and force often cause strains, injuries to tendons and muscles. Elevation, rest, ice and compression help treat the soft-tissue injury, but slip-and-fall victims may need surgery if they tear a muscle.
Soft-tissue injuries affect the body in various ways. The right medical treatments and information help slip-and-fall victims recover fully.