Suffering a Ruptured Spleen in a Bike Accident Is Serious

Suffering a Ruptured Spleen in a Bike Accident Is Serious

Ryan Zavodnick | April 7, 2023 | Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle accidents are an unfortunate occurrence in the Philadelphia area. When you are in a bike accident, you can suffer injuries ranging from mild abrasions to severe traumas, such as a brain injury or internal organ damage. One of the most common organs injured in bike accidents is the spleen.

A ruptured spleen can be a life-threatening medical emergency. If you’ve injured your spleen in a bike accident, here is what you need to know.

Overview of Spleen Damage

It is no secret that people can live without their spleen. However, this in no way negates the seriousness of the injury. For example, if the injury is severe enough, you will need to undergo surgery to remove your damaged spleen. 

On a bike, an injury to the spleen can happen when your abdomen hits the handlebars of your bike. After the initial impact, the force could be powerful enough to severely damage your spleen. If your spleen ruptures, it could result in more extensive health complications and internal damage, including bleeding.

Initial Assessment After a Spleen Injury

Assessing your feelings directly after the accident can prove difficult. This is due to the amount of adrenaline that is released into the system. More often than not, adrenaline can obscure the pain and cause symptoms to reveal themselves at a later date. However, this isn’t always the case.

Sometimes the pain from an injury is immediately apparent, despite your adrenaline. There are specific symptoms that you can be on the lookout for that will alert you to a deeper problem. Those symptoms include all of the following:

  • Localized pain on the left side of the body, under the rib cage
  • Pain in the left shoulder
  • Blurred vision
  • General confusion
  • Nausea
  • Fainting

Some of these symptoms occur due to prolonged internal bleeding. This is why it is important to remain as vigilant as possible and consult a medical professional if something feels abnormal or you suspect something might be wrong. Speaking with a medical professional is the best way to identify a problem before it gets worse.

The Importance of Proper Medical Attention

Although it is possible for humans to live without a spleen, a ruptured spleen can be a life-threatening emergency. A severe injury to the spleen requires immediate medical attention. After you arrive at the hospital, medical professionals will conduct several tests to assess the state of your spleen.

Minor spleen injuries usually heal independently of any surgical procedures. However, if the rupture has caused your vitals to drop or the internal bleeding is significant enough, you may need to undergo emergency surgery. Before the surgery, the surgeons will evaluate the damage and decide whether to make a repair or remove the entire spleen.

If the tear is small enough and the bleeding is able to be controlled, then the surgeons may opt to repair the spleen. This would involve the use of stitches, but can also involve other methods.

The spleen is responsible for fighting infections throughout the body. Without one, you face a higher risk of contracting a life-threatening infection. This leaves you vulnerable to conditions you may not have been at risk for before your accident. 

If this has happened to you as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may need to consider taking the legal steps required to hold them accountable and seek compensation for the harm you suffered.

Contact Our Bicycle Accident Law Firm in Philadelphia Today To Get Help With Your Case

To learn more and get the help you deserve, call Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers at (215) 875-7030 or contact us online.
You can also visit our law firm at 123 S Broad St #1220, Philadelphia, PA 19109.