User:Mr. Ibrahem/Humerus fracture
| Humerus fracture | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Midshaft humerus fracture with callus formation | |
| Specialty | Orthopedics |
| Symptoms | Pain, swelling, bruising[1] |
| Complications | Injury to an artery or nerve, compartment syndrome[2] |
| Types | Proximal humerus, humerus shaft, distal humerus[1][2] |
| Causes | Trauma, cancer[2] |
| Diagnostic method | X-rays[2] |
| Treatment | Sling, splint, brace, surgery[1] |
| Prognosis | Generally good (proximal and shaft), Less good (distal)[2] |
| Frequency | ~4% of fractures[2] |
A humerus fracture is a break of the humerus bone in the upper arm.[1] Symptoms may include pain, swelling, and bruising.[1] There may be a decreased ability to move the arm and the person may present holding their elbow.[2] Complications may include injury to an artery or nerve, and compartment syndrome.[2]
The cause of a humerus fracture is usually physical trauma such as a fall.[1] Other causes include conditions such as cancer in the bone.[2] Types include proximal humeral fractures, humeral shaft fractures, and distal humeral fractures.[1][2] Diagnosis is generally confirmed by X-rays.[2] A CT scan may be done in proximal fractures to gather further details.[2]
Treatment options may include a sling, splint, brace, or surgery.[1] In proximal fractures that remain well aligned, a sling is often sufficient.[2] Many humerus shaft fractures may be treated with a brace rather than surgery.[2] Surgical options may include open reduction and internal fixation, closed reduction and percutaneous pinning, and intramedullary nailing.[2] Joint replacement may be another option.[2] Proximal and shaft fractures generally have a good outcome while outcomes with distal fractures can be less good.[2] They represent about 4% of fractures.[2]