Humerus fracture

Table of Contents:

1. What is humerus fracture?
2. Prognosis of the disease
3. What are the symptoms?
4. What medical tests are performed?
5. Prevention
6. Treatment
7. Medical specialists

What is a humerus fracture?

The humerus is the longest bone of the upper extremity, the upper arm. It articulates, at the upper end, with the scapula through the shoulder and with the ulna and radius through the elbow joint at the lower end. The most common injury to this bone is the humerus fracture. It accounts for 5% of fractures in the adult population and affects mostly the elderly and young. Fractures of the humerus are classified according to the fractured area: the upper end, the shaft, or the lower end.

Prognosis of the disease

The degree of recovery and the time of recovery may vary depending on the following variables:

• Patient’s age: after 45 years of age, the risk of abduction limitation is progressive.
• The strength of the muscle contusion, especially the deltoid muscle.
• Degree of power of the shoulder muscles.
• Obesity.
• The degree of cooperation and understanding of the patient.

There are also factors that slow down recovery after a humerus fracture:

• Inadequate rehabilitation.
• After 45 or 50 years of age, rehabilitation becomes more difficult.
• Deficient development of the musculature.
• Obesity.
• Bone pullout with displacement of the fragment.
• Taking too long to make a correct diagnosis.

Humerus fracture accounts for 5% of fractures in the adult population.

Symptoms of humerus fracture

Patients with humerus fractures usually present with pain, swelling, edema or hematoma, and crepitus over the injured shoulder and arm. Symptoms usually appear immediately because there is often a loud snapping or cracking sound indicating that the patient has broken his or her arm. In addition there are other signs and symptoms that include:

• Severe pain that increases with movement of the arm.
• Swelling.
• Bruising.
• Deformity of the arm or wrist.
• Inability to turn the arm.

In cases where the pain exceeds the threshold of normality and cannot be used properly, the patient should immediately consult a physician. Moreover, delayed diagnosis and treatment of an arm fracture can lead to poor healing.

Medical tests for humerus fracture

X-rays are used to diagnose a humerus fracture. This test can also determine the extent of the injury, locate the exact location of the fracture and whether the injury has affected any nearby joints.

In some cases, the physician may also request a computed axial tomography (CT) scan to determine the degree of comminution, rule out associated glenoid fractures and establish the angulation and displacement between the fragments, which will influence the therapeutic decision.

Can it be prevented?

There are some physical activities or certain medical conditions that may increase the risks of suffering a fracture of the humerus. Playing a number of sports such as basketball, rugby, wrestling, soccer, field hockey, snowboarding or skiing, can be risk factors when it comes to suffering a humerus fracture. In turn, osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to weaken, even a fall from a short distance can cause a humerus fracture.

Treatments for humerus fracture

There are different treatments for humerus fracture. These depend on the type of fracture, all possible treatments are presented below:

• Bone adjustment: in cases where a displaced fracture is present, the specialist will have to manipulate the different parts of the humerus to place them in their correct position. The patient may need a muscle relaxant, a sedative or general anesthesia if the pain and swelling become unbearable.
• Immobilization: The patient may also need to wear a splint, sling, brace or cast to immobilize the broken bone to ensure healing. The immobilization time may vary according to the severity of the injury, but is approximately 3 to 10 weeks.
• Medications: the specialist can prescribe some analgesic in order to reduce pain and inflammation.
• Therapy: It is important to start rehabilitation with some movement to minimize arm, hand and shoulder stiffness while the cast or sling remains in place. After removing this protection, the specialist may recommend extra exercises to regain muscle strength, joint movement and flexibility.
• Surgery: Surgery is necessary in some cases to stabilize fractures. Fixation devices such as wires, plates, pins or screws may be needed to maintain the proper position of the bones during healing. The risk of complications is low, but they can lead to infection and lack of bone healing.

What specialist treats it?

The traumatologist is the specialist who treats the humerus fracture. At Top Doctors we offer the best medical directory that adapts to your situation and provides you with the specialist closest to your location.