injuries and poisoning
Upper Arm Fractures
Introduction
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. These fracture cause pain and swelling in the shoulder and upper arm and limit movement of the arm. Doctors diagnose upper arm fractures based on x-rays and sometimes computed tomography. Usually, only a sling, sometimes with a swathe, is required, but sometimes surgery is needed to realign the broken bones or to replace the joint. (See also Overview of Fractures .) Fractures that occur in the upper part of the upper arm bone (humerus) cause pain in the shoulder because the upper arm bone is part of the shoulder joint. The upper arm bone may fracture in different places. One example is shown below. Upper arm fractures usually result from a fall on an outstretched arm. Sometimes they result from a direct blow. Usually, the broken pieces of bone do not move out of place or move only slightly out of place and thus tend to heal on their own. Upper arm fractures are common among older people. 