Humerus fracture: Broken Arm!

A humerus fracture is a break in the large bone in the upper arm (humerus ).

What are the causes?

This condition may be caused by:

A fall.

A hard, direct hit to the arm.

Motor vehicle accident.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop in:

Elderly people.

People who have a disease that makes the bones thin and weak (osteoporosis).

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

Pain. Swelling. Bruising.

Not being able to move the arm normally.

How is this treated?

If the joint is stable and the bones are still in their normal position (nondisplaced ), the injury may be treated with immobilization. This involves the use of a cast, splint, or sling to hold your arm in place. Immobilization ensures that your bones continue to stay in the correct position while your arm is healing.

If your fracture is displaced, that means that one or more parts of the bone have been moved out of normal position and the normal alignment between the bones is destroyed. This type of fracture is treated with a surgical procedure that is called open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF). In this procedure, the bone pieces are put back together, and they are held in place by plates, screws, or other types of hardware. The procedure helps the bones to heal properly. The hardware that is put in during the procedure will likely be left in place after you heal.