Can you break your upper arm and still use it?
Can you break your upper arm and still use it?
Break to the top of your upper arm (proximal humerus fracture) 8-9 times out of 10, your arm will heal simply by being kept still using a sling or some other mechanism to keep the upper arm and shoulder from moving. However, some people will need surgery to fix this type of fracture.
Which body part have you damaged if you break your upper arm?
Upper arm fractures occur at the upper end of the upper arm bone (humerus), affecting the shoulder joint. Upper arm fractures usually result from a fall on an outstretched arm. Usually, the broken pieces of bone remain in place or close together and thus tend to heal on their own.
How do you treat a simple upper arm fracture?
- Stop the Bleeding if Necessary. Apply firm pressure to the wound area with a clean cloth until bleeding stops.
- Reduce Swelling. Apply ice.
- Immobilize Arm. For less serious injuries:
- See a Health Care Provider Immediately.
- Follow Up. The health care provider will likely take X-rays and may apply a cast or splint.
Can I shower with a fractured humerus?
NO BATHING OR SHOWERING. Do not try to raise your arm A fractured Humerus can be very mobile. You may feel or hear the bone moving; this is not unusual but by allowing your arm to relax from the shoulder and hang loose may reduce or even prevent this from happening.
What does it mean when someone breaks your upper arm?
Occasionally you can break your upper arm because you have developed a type of cancer that is affecting the bone and has made it so weak that it has cracked. This is called a pathological fracture. In very small children their upper arm, particularly the shaft, can be broken by someone abusing them, by hitting or throwing them.
Can you break your arm by falling on your hand?
You can also break your upper arm by falling on to your hand when your arm is straight, especially if it is out to your side. If you are elderly, it is possible you have developed ‘thinning’ of the bones ( osteoporosis ). This makes it more likely that you will break your arm following a relatively minor fall or accident.
What happens to the humerus after a broken arm?
The very top of the humerus (humeral head) is removed and replaced with an artificial humeral head (partial shoulder joint replacement). Most of these kinds of fractures need to be operated on. This is because the ends of the broken bones usually move away from each other (displaced or angled).
What kind of bone is broken in the upper arm?
What Is It: A break or crack in the upper arm bone known as a fractured shaft of humerus. It may be anything from a small hairline fracture to a complex fracture where the bone has completely broken into two or more pieces
You can also break your upper arm by falling on to your hand when your arm is straight, especially if it is out to your side. If you are elderly, it is possible you have developed ‘thinning’ of the bones ( osteoporosis ). This makes it more likely that you will break your arm following a relatively minor fall or accident.
Occasionally you can break your upper arm because you have developed a type of cancer that is affecting the bone and has made it so weak that it has cracked. This is called a pathological fracture. In very small children their upper arm, particularly the shaft, can be broken by someone abusing them, by hitting or throwing them.
The very top of the humerus (humeral head) is removed and replaced with an artificial humeral head (partial shoulder joint replacement). Most of these kinds of fractures need to be operated on. This is because the ends of the broken bones usually move away from each other (displaced or angled).
How is a broken arm treated in the emergency department?
In most instances, the broken arm will be able to be treated in the emergency department. Most fractures will need to have a splint or partial cast applied to stabilize the broken bones. In addition to splinting the broken arm, the physician will prescribe medicines for pain control and ice to decrease swelling.