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A supracondylar humerus fracture is a crack or break in the arm bone from impact or falls. It is common in children and older adults with weakened bones. Treatment can range from immobilization to surgery, with physical therapy needed for recovery. Artery damage is a risk in more severe cases.
A supracondylar humerus fracture is an injury to the humerus, which is an arm bone that runs from the shoulder to the elbow. A fracture occurs when a crack develops in that bone, most often from some sort of impact or fall. The bone can break completely, requiring surgery to correct the condition. A supracondylar humerus fracture is not a common injury in adults, although it is exceptionally common among children and older adults who have osteoporosis or weakened bones.
The most common ways for a supracondylar humerus fracture to occur include falls, impacts, traffic accidents, and gunshot wounds. The fracture occurs in the humerus bone in the upper arm and the degree of the fracture can vary. Minor fractures can manifest as small cracks, while more serious fractures can cause the bone to completely separate from itself. When this occurs, the patient is likely to experience severe pain and damage to the surrounding soft tissue is likely. Treatment for a supracondylar humerus fracture will need to be done immediately to prevent further injury and relieve pain.
Part of the danger of a supracondylar humerus fracture is the likelihood that an artery could be damaged by the fractured bone. If this happens, severe bleeding can occur and other serious complications can arise. Minor fractures are unlikely to lead to such situations, but moderate or severe fractures run the risk of damaging the arteries in the arm. A minor fracture is usually treated by throwing the arm for immobility; the person will not be able to move the arm for several weeks while the bone repairs. More severe cases of a supracondylar humerus fracture may require your doctor to manipulate the bone into place before it is fused. Once fused, the bone will be immobilized so it can heal. Physical therapy will be needed once the bone heals.
More severe cases of a supracondylar humerus fracture will require surgery to repair. A doctor will reset the bone and insert pins or screws to stabilize it as it heals. Your doctor can also repair the soft tissue damaged by the fracture during surgery. The recovery time for such an injury will be quite extensive and the arm will need to be immobilized for an extended period of time. Physical therapy will be needed once the bone has healed sufficiently.
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