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A crushing accident, one in which a person receives crush injuries, may sometimes result in something called crush syndrome (sometimes referred to as traumatic rabdomyolysis or Bywaters' syndrome).
The condition was first discovered by Eric Bywaters during the Blitz bombing of London during the Second World War.
Bywaters found that many victims of crush injuries developed shock and kidney failure once the source and pressure of crushing had been removed from the site of injury.
Bywaters observed: "The patient has been buried for several hours with pressure on a limb. On admission he looks good except for swelling of the limb, some local anaesthesia and whealing.
"The haemoglobin, however, is raised, and a few hours later, despite vasoconstriction, made manifest by pallor, coldness and sweating, the blood pressure falls. This is restored to a pre-shock level by (often multiple) transfusions of serum, plasma, or, occasionally, blood. Anxiety may now arise concerning the circulation of the injured limb, which may show diminution of arterial pulsation distally, accompanied by all the changes of incipient gangrene. Signs of renal damage soon appear, and progress, even though the crushed limb be amputated.
"The urinary output, initially small, owing perhaps to the severity of the shock, diminishes further. The urine contains albumen and many dark brow or black granular casts. These later decrease in number. The patient is alternately drowsy and anxiously aware of the severity of his illness. Slight generalised oedema, thirst and incessant vomiting develop, and the blood pressure often remains slightly raised.
"The blood urea and potassium, raised at an early stage, become progressively higher and death occurs comparatively suddenly, frequently within a week. Necropsy reveals necrosis of muscle and, in the renal tubules, degenerative changes and casts containing brown pigment."
As the pathophysiology of crush syndrome occurs as a result of the release of pressure from the site of injury, UK first-aiders are advised not to remove the source of injury if the injured person has been trapped for more than 15 minutes. As such, prompt specialist intervention is always advised so that this potentially fatal condition can be anticipated and, where possible, prevented.
These days, UK civilians are unlikely to suffer the condition unless they fall foul of either a crushing accident in the workplace or serious road traffic accident.
Those workers most at risk of crush injuries and, consequently, Bywater's syndrome include:
Claim compensation for crush injuries
If you or a close family member has suffered crush injuries as a result of an accident that was the faulty of another party, YouClaim can provide you with accurate compensation claim advice, all in complete confidence and without obligation.
We are experts in all forms of personal injury claim and, with the exception of medical negligence cases, offer a service that is free of all possible charges.
Furthermore, we work under the governance of the SRA, a branch of the Law Society and never take a cut from the settlements awarded our clients: our 100 percent compensation promise.
More minor crushing accidents, such as those which result only in thumb injury may be compensated with four-figure sums; however, more serious cases, such as those which result in paralysis may be eligible for settlements worth several million pounds.
To find out more about how our personal injury solicitors can help you, echat, complete an online claim form or call us, on 0800 10 757 95.
We look forward to securing you the compensation you deserve.
