Medical research on the treatment of Complex Limb Fractures (CLF) resulting from injuries from motor vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents has developed significantly in recent years. Survivors of these catastrophic injuries face potentially lifelong challenges and obstacles in their healing. Understanding the medical challenges of treating these injuries is therefore important for any family who has been affected by CLFs. At the Law Office of Scott Herndon, we are committed to educating our clients, juries, and judges on the seriousness of these injuries in the lives of survivors of tragedy.
This webpage is intended as a general overview of recent work in this area. Given that we are a law firm and not medical professionals, we urge you to contact a doctor with specific questions about CLF treatment. We are here to help you understand your legal rights each step of the way.
An important 2025 article by Serlis (et al) in Advances in Orthopedics, “Complex Limb Injuries: Limb Salvage Versus Amputation,” provides a review and meta-analysis on the multidisciplinary approaches to managing CLFs and other injuries, including those suffered by survivors of motor vehicle accidents of all types. This article provides a clear and unsparing overview of the variables that drive the decision to amputate or reconstruct limbs, and the outcomes for different patients, including economic considerations.
The National Trauma Institute estimates that nearly 20% of all severe trauma injuries involve complex limb fractures, underscoring the importance of understanding the challenges associated with their management.
One of Serlis’ core arguments is that medical expertise must be integrated with patient preferences and expectations. While there may be better psychological outcomes from limb reconstruction surgery, financial considerations and functional outcomes may militate in favor of amputation. Effective lawyers must work hand-in-hand with board-certified psychologists, rehabilitation professionals, and other experts to chart the impact of these medical treatments in the lives of their clients. This is one of the strengths of The Law Office of Scott Herndon, where we pride ourselves on the quality of our research and expert teams.
Serlis also notes that disability rates and functional outcomes for limb salvage and amputations were similar after 7 years post-surgery. In other words, there is some evidence that the choice of treatment did not affect overall outcomes. However, it is important to note that these outcomes may only be physical in nature, and not psychological or economic. The economic impact of an amputation on one of our clients, such as an actor in Hollywood, the CEO of a fashion company, or the hostess of a James Beard award-winning restaurant, may be far different than its psychological impact. (See also Koshy et al, “Assessment and Decision-Making in Complex Limb Fracture Management,” Cureus, 2025, and De Jong et al, “The Influence of Psychosocial Factors on Outcome After Severe Physical Trauma,” Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 2022).
A study by the American Medical Association found that the lifetime cost of an amputation can easily approach $1 million, depending on the level of amputation and the individual’s needs for prosthetic devices and ongoing care.
Here, an important resource is Nayar (et al), “Primary Amputation Versus Limb Salvage in Upper Limb Major Trauma: A Systematic Review,” European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology (2002). Nayar reminds us that a patient’s social situation, pre-injury function, and psychological presentation are all essential elements in analyzing the treatment and effect of major trauma to limbs, and the need for all members of a patient’s medical team to be involved in patient treatment, aftercare, and rehabilitation.
The success of limb salvage and rehabilitation is significantly enhanced when a coordinated team of surgeons, therapists, psychologists, and social workers collaborate to address the patient’s physical and emotional needs.
Taken together, it is crucial for any law firm to deploy a multi-disciplinary approach to understand and explain the damages sustained by their clients. This is what we do at The Law Office of Scott Herndon.
If you or your loved one has suffered a serious accident, and requires world-class academic and legal analysis and advocacy, call us today.
Call 415-360-5477 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our highly skilled attorneys today.
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