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Fracture, Humeral Shaft, Sports Medicine

Julie Chuan, MD, FAAFP, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

  • Direct trauma from a fall

  • Direct blow to the upper arm

  • Fall on elbow or outstretched arm (FOOSH injury)

  • Motor vehicle or industrial accident

  • Pitching a ball (Torque causes a spiral fracture.)

  • Bone m...

DIAGNOSIS

  • History and physical examination with special attention to a thorough neurovascular and skin examination

  • Consider associated injuries such as ipsilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand fract...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • These fractures usually do not require elaborate reduction or immobilization.

  • Fractures without neurovascular compromise can be treated conservatively; see immobilization opti...

ONGOING CARE

  • Immobilize until clinical healing and pain free, with bony callus on radiographs, usually 4 to 6 wk.

  • Begin pendulum exercises within 1 wk.

  • Start passive ROM after 2 wk to minimize shoulder ...

REFERENCES

1
Ekholm R, Adami J, Tidermark J, et al. Fractures of the shaft of the humerus. An epidemiological study of 401 fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Br.  2006;88(11):1469–1473.
2
Anglen JO, Archd...

ADDITIONAL READING

Simon R, Koenigsknecht S. Emergency Orthopedics: the Extremities. 3rd ed. Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange; 1995. 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Radial nerve injury is the most common neurovascular injury, occurring in about 15% of humeral shaft fractures.

  • 10 to 20 degrees of angulation and 1 to 2 cm of shortening generally are ...

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