When you hear the word catastrophic injuries, the meaning that comes to mind is severe injuries. If this is what you believe, then you’re not wrong. Catastrophic injuries often destabilize the body, leaving victims with lifelong injuries or even missing body parts. What are some common injuries of this nature? Let’s get into it.
Traumatic brain injury
A traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain is damaged or starved of oxygen. The effects vary depending on how long the victim was starved of oxygen. A severely injured person with a traumatic brain injury may be left with lifelong disability. 
This type of injury is caused by assault, falls, or accidents. In other cases, it could be caused by self-harm. A traumatic brain injury is catastrophic because of the aftereffects of the damage. The brain cannot regenerate dead cells, leading to permanent cognitive impairment. It could also lead to a loss of basic skills such as walking, talking, and even swallowing. Victims may need round-the-clock care to survive. They can no longer travel or have fun like they used to.
Spinal cord injury
A spinal cord injury often leads to different results, including full or partial paralysis. In full paralysis, the victim may be unable to use any other part of their body besides their head. Partial paralysis, on the other hand, may lead to the loss of usage in the legs or hands.
There are other complications that come from a spinal cord injury, such as loss of bowel and bladder functions. In some extreme cases, it leads to impotence. A spinal cord injury is often caused by accidents, falls, or blunt force trauma from sports activities.
Burns
Burns are also considered catastrophic because they can cause lifelong injuries and loss of limbs. Burns include electrical shock and fires because the effects are similar. In many cases, severe burns require multiple surgeries to give the victim comfort. It damages the outer layer of the skin, making it harder to regenerate new cells.
Burns leave scar tissue after healing, leading to disfigurement of the victims. The scars may also hinder proper body functions, such as using fingers and toes properly.
Amputation
Losing a body part is catastrophic because it can never be replaced. This is often caused by car and work accidents. In some cases, medical malpractice may be responsible for amputations. Also, amputation may be a life-saving option for a patient. A good example is in the case of sepsis, where strong medicine is used to treat the infection. This can also prevent blood flow to the limbs and lead to amputation.
Frostbite also leads to loss of blood flow to the limbs, leading to amputation. While electrical shock may be another reason for amputation, it is not as common as others listed above.
Loss of eyesight
Permanent damage to the eye can lead to a loss of eyesight. This cannot be remedied by modern medicine. It is often caused by health conditions but can also be a result of accidents. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States. Also, medical malpractice could cause the loss of eye sight.