A humerus fracture is a break in the upper arm bone that connects the forearm to the shoulder. Fractures are classified by location, with those near the elbow or shoulder more likely to require surgery. Treatment is typically a brace or sling, and there are different types of fractures based on the type and location.
The humerus is the upper arm bone that connects the forearm to the shoulder. A fracture, in medical terms is a break, so in layman’s terms, a humerus fracture is a broken arm. There are many types of fractures described by medical science, but they all refer to some type of bone fracture.
Upper arm fractures are classified according to their location on the bone. In most cases, a humerus fracture does not require surgery, as most often the fracture occurs in the bone shaft. Fractures located near one end of the humerus, where it joins the elbow or shoulder, are more likely to require surgery.
A humerus fracture located near the shoulder joint is called a proximal fracture, due to its relative proximity to the centerline of the body. This end of the humerus is a large, rounded knob that forms the ball of the shoulder ball joint. These types of fractures can cause damage to the tendons that connect the humerus to the shoulder joint.
A middle humerus fracture is a fracture located somewhere along the main shaft of the bone, away from either end, where the bone thickens at the shoulder and elbow joints. These are by far the most common type of humerus fracture and do not normally require surgery, as doctors can often realign and fix the bone without surgery. However, this is only the case with simple fractures.
Distal humerus fractures are those in which the bone breaks near the elbow joint. These types of fractures are much more common in children than adults and may require surgery, as small splinters or bone fragments may be present. In all three types of humerus fracture, damage to the radial nerve is possible, but it is more common in fractures of the middle shaft. This can lead to numbness in parts of the forearm and hand, although most people with this type of injury recover completely within a few months.
Treatment for most humerus fractures is a brace or sling. A cast is often not possible or useful for these types of breaks. The patient should be careful, as far as possible, to refrain from moving the arm.
In medical terms, fractures can also be classified based on the type of fracture and location. A compound fracture has occurred when the broken ends of the bone protrude through the skin, which is not the case with a simple fracture. A fracture in which the bone has broken into more than two pieces is a comminuted fracture. If the ends of the bone are misaligned after the fracture, the break is called a compound fracture.
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