Humerus Fracture: First Aid and Treatment Guidelines
- A humerus fracture (broken humerus) commonly occurs due to various accidents, such as falling and using the shoulder and elbow area to brace oneself or playing contact sports with violent impacts, and bone thinning as well as osteoporosis among some of the elderly.
- The main symptoms of a humerus fracture that can be observed at once are pain and swelling in the upper arm bone area, inability to move the arm normally, and in some cases, visible arm deformity.
- First aid treatment for a humerus fracture involves using a splint or arm sling to stabilize the arm close to the body. The most important thing is to absolutely avoid moving the arm to reduce the risk of further bone displacement. Then, immediately transport the patient to the hospital.
- There are two main treatment approaches for a humerus fracture: non-surgical and surgical treatments. Non-surgical treatment includes casting and using an arm sling for 4-6 weeks. However, if the broken humerus is in multiple pieces, severely displaced, or symptoms don’t improve after casting, doctors will consider surgical treatment.
- Treatment of a humerus fracture at kdms Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, ensures patients receive care from our specialized medical teams for bone, joint, and muscle care. A personalized treatment plan is developed for all patients, either with surgical or non-surgical approach, together with our physical therapy and rehabilitation team to aid recovery, reduce complication risks, and promote rapid healing.
The humerus is the upper arm bone that extends from the shoulder area to the elbow. Humerus fractures account for approximately 5-10% of all fracture cases. Fractures can occur in multiple positions, whether at the proximal, mid-shaft, or distal sections. The main causes include direct impact to the upper arm area or falling using the elbow or shoulder area to bear weight.
What are the symptoms of a humerus fracture? How do we provide first aid for the patients? What treatment methods are available for this condition? Is physical therapy required? Are there complications? Find answers along with proper treatment guidelines in this article.
Table of Contents
ToggleWhat Are the Symptoms of a Humerus Fracture?
Common symptoms of a humerus fracture include pain and swelling in the upper arm area after impact, pain when attempting to move the arm, and possible arm deformity or bending in cases of complete humerus fracture. If a severe accident is the cause of the fracture, there may be open wounds along with the broken arm, which increases infection risk and requires immediate medical attention.
Causes of Humerus Fracture
Humerus fractures result from severe impact to the upper arm area, such as road accidents, falls where the shoulder and elbow areas are used to brace the impact, and contact sports with violent impacts. Moreover, the elderly with bone thinning and osteoporosis should be especially careful of this condition, as even minor impacts or light falls can cause fractures. Regular bone health checkups should be conducted to monitor for osteoporosis, and careful daily activities should be maintained to prevent humerus fractures.
First Aid Methods for Humerus Fracture
First aid treatment for a humerus fracture involves using a stick to splint the arm. It is recommended to splint the entire length of the arm, from above the shoulder area down to the elbow. If no splint is available, use a cloth sling around the neck to stabilize the arm close to the body. This helps prevent the arm from swinging.
The most important thing is to absolutely avoid moving the arm to reduce the risk of further bone displacement or fractures.
Treatment Approaches for Humerus Fracture
Treatment approaches for humerus fractures are divided into two main methods:
1. Non-surgical treatment of humerus fracture
Types of humerus fracture are sorted by the location of occurrence. If the proximal humerus near the shoulder joint is fractured with minimal displacement at an acceptable degree, doctors will consider casting or using arm hanging devices as treatment instead of surgery.
Similarly, for complete mid-shaft humerus fractures with displacement, casting and bone alignment can be attempted first. If this method works after casting, doctors will continue this treatment until healing.
Typically, cast treatment for humerus fractures takes approximately 4-6 weeks, depending on X-ray follow-ups. After casting, X-rays will be taken weekly for the first 2 weeks. If bone alignment hasn’t shifted and remains in position, casting can continue until completing 1 month. Doctors will schedule X-rays to observe bone callus formation. If the patient feels no pain, the cast can be removed.
2. Surgical treatment of humerus fracture
Doctors will consider surgical treatment for humerus fractures in 3 cases:
- Proximal humerus fractures with multiple fragments and significant displacement
- Mid-shaft humerus fractures where bone alignment remains poor after reduction and casting
- Distal humerus fractures that are completely fractured
All three cases should receive surgical treatment, except when the fracture shows no displacement or the patient’s physical condition is unsuitable for surgery. Surgical methods include:
- For proximal or distal humerus fractures, doctors will perform open surgery to align the bones and insert plate fixation to help proper bone healing.
- For mid-shaft humerus fractures, doctors will first consider the fracture pattern. If there are multiple severe fragments, doctors will perform open surgery to insert plate fixation. However, in cases with multiple fragments that can be realigned, doctors will use intramedullary nail fixation, which results in smaller wounds.
After completing surgery in the initial period, doctors will recommend using arm sling devices to help bear weight and reduce wound pain. However, if patients don’t use their arms much or don’t need to get up and walk around, the arm sling can be removed.
Self-Care After Humerus Fracture Surgery
- In the first 2 weeks before suture removal, avoid getting the wound wet
- In the first 2 weeks, gently move the wrist and elbow joints to reduce swelling and stiffness
- After surgery, if patients don’t have joint stiffness and can move the arm normally, physical therapy isn’t necessary and normal activities can be resumed
- If patients develop joint stiffness, doctors will recommend physical therapy to increase joint mobility
Complications After Humerus Fracture Surgery
Post-surgery complications differ depending on the fracture location. For example, proximal humerus fractures, located near the shoulder joint, may lead to shoulder osteoarthritis after surgery. Distal humerus fractures, located near the elbow, may risk elbow osteoarthritis and joint stiffness postoperatively.
To reduce risks from these complications, doctors will align joints as smoothly as possible to minimize joint degeneration. For joint stiffness cases, patients should exercise and move frequently during recovery to help prevent stiffness.
For mid-shaft humerus surgery, there’s risk of nerve injury affecting wrist extension. However, this condition usually resolves on its own over time.
Precautions After Humerus Fracture Surgery
After 3 months following humerus fracture surgery, when bones have healed normally, arms can be used as before without special restrictions. Patients can also return to the posture of sleeping on their sides without worrying about subsequent problems.
The Perks of Having Humerus Fracture Surgery at kdms Hospital
kdms Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, provides humerus fracture treatment with our specialized medical team experienced in bone trauma and orthopedics. We offer appropriate treatment recommendations for each individual case, whether surgical or non-surgical approaches, to effectively reduce treatment risks. Our physical therapy team provides guidance to ensure smooth treatment progress, rapid recovery, and excellent functional outcomes.
In Summary
A humerus fracture occurs when the upper arm bone from the shoulder to the elbow breaks, whether completely, partially, or cracked. The main causes include severe impacts to the upper arm area and falls where the elbow area bears weight. Additionally, bone-related conditions in the elderly increase the risk of humerus fracture. Patients with humerus fractures will notice swelling and pain in the upper arm area, with increased pain when moving the arm. Some cases may show bone deformity or arm bending. If the broken arm results from severe accidents that bones penetrate the skin, this risks infection and requires immediate medical attention.
Humerus fracture treatment can be accomplished through both surgical and non-surgical casting methods. Selecting treatment approaches depend on patient symptoms, fracture characteristics, displacement angles, and physician diagnosis. Once properly healed, patients can return to normal arm use without worrying about long-term restrictions.
An article by Supakorn Buranawongtrakoon, M.D., Experienced Hand, Wrist, and Arm Surgeon
Q & A
If the treatment is surgery and metal fixation is attached to bones, the bone areas at the head and the tail of the metal will be thinner than normal. Do not join sports activities until doctors recommend metal removal after bone healing. Moreover, for athletes at risk of contact impacts, wait another 3 months after removal for better recovery and returning to optimal normal functions without the risk of another fracture.
Additionally, patients wanting to exercise at a fitness center after humerus fracture surgery may be limited to certain positions. For example, those who plan for weightlifting or weight pulling should avoid bench press as it may cause danger.
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