Flying with Fractures
Broken bones or fractures may need specialized treatment abroad, or when accidents happen in a foreign country far from one’s homeland. In cases of traumatic injuries such as multiple fractures, medical repatriation via air ambulance becomes essential to ensure the best chance of recovery. This vital service ensures the safe and timely transfer of patients back to their home country, where specialized care can be provided. Bluedot with its commitment to patient care and safety, has transferred accident victims with 100% success.
Types of Fractures
Fractures may be differentiated based on their characteristics and potential implications such as closed or simple fractures, open or compound fractures (where the bone protrudes through the skin, risking bleeding and infection), comminuted fractures, where the bone shatters into multiple pieces, risking slower healing. Potential complications from fractures may include blood loss, injuries to organs and tissues, and stunted bone growth in children.
Treatment & Recovery
Depending on the fracture’s location and severity, various treatments are available, ranging from simple casting to more invasive options like orthopedic surgery. In some cases, recovery typically takes 3 to 12 months and will often require physiotherapy after the bones are healed. Proper healing is crucial to avoid malunion or non-union, which can lead to chronic pain and loss of limb movement.
When can you fly?
While flying with a properly set and secured fracture is generally safe, immediate air travel following plaster cast application is not advised. The timing for flying after bone repair surgery varies based on procedure complexity, with longer recovery periods needed for extensive surgeries. Long-haul flights carry a heightened risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and other risks include wound infection and compartment syndrome, requiring prompt medical attention.
Medical Escort or Air Ambulance?
If you plan to take a regular flight, a medical escort is highly recommended to offer comprehensive assistance, medical care, and in-flight management, considering potential mobility limitations and the risk of blood clot development. For complex fractures requiring bone repair surgery, air ambulance services offer the optimal solution, providing transportation for critically ill or injured patients over long distances while ensuring continuous and specialized care.
Bluedot Air’s innovative UMeN network guarantees the accompaniment of exceptional aeromedical professionals with both outstanding credentials and a compassionate, global mindset. Our CAMTS/EURAMI certified air ambulances serve as fully equipped mobile intensive care units, staffed by qualified doctors and furnished with cutting-edge medical technology, ensuring the highest level of care during the flight.
We also provide bed-to-bed service, ensuring seamless patient care by collaborating with local authorities and facilitating transportation from the patient’s location to their home or another medical facility. Throughout the journey, meticulous in-flight health monitoring and expert medical management prioritize patient safety and comfort at every step.
