Proximal Humerus Fracture

A proximal humerus fracture is a broken bone (fracture) of the shoulder at the ball (humeral head) of the shoulder. These fractures of the humerus typically involve the  neck and/or one or both of the attachments (greater or lesser tuberosity) of the rotator cuff muscles.

Frequent Signs and Symptoms

• Severe arm pain at the time of injury
• Tenderness, swelling, and delayed bruising of the arm or chest
• Later, swelling and bruising move to the elbow and hand
• Visible deformity if the fracture is complete and bone fragments separate enough to distort
  normal body contours
• Numbness, coldness, or paralysis below the fracture involving the forearm or hand from
• pressure on or stretching of blood vessels or nerves (rare)
• Pain with attempted motion of the shoulder, such as lifting or rotation of the arm

Etiology (Causes)

• Indirect force due to falling on an outstretched hand or bent elbow
• Violent muscle contraction
• Uncommonly, a direct blow to the shoulder

Risk Factors

• Contact sports such as football, soccer, hockey, and rugby
• Sports in which falling is possible (snowboarding, volleyball, basketball)
• History of bone or joint disease, or previous immobilization of the arm
• Poor physical conditioning (strength and flexibility)

Prevention

• Appropriately warm up and stretch before activities
• Maintain appropriate conditioning:
• Cardiovascular fitness
• Shoulder strength
• Endurance, flexibility, and agility
• Wear proper protective equipment and ensure correct fit

Outcomes

With appropriate treatment and normal alignment of the fracture fragments, healing can be expected. Average healing time is six to eight weeks in adults and four to six weeks in children. Surgery may be necessary to realign fractures that are displaced, or to treat fractures that do not heal properly. Full recovery, including rehabilitation, can require four to six months.

Potential Complications

• Nonunion (fracture does not heal)
• Malunion (fracture heals in a bad position)
• Chronic pain, stiffness, loss of motion, or swelling of the shoulder
• Excessive bleeding in the arm after injury to surrounding tissue, causing pressure and injury to nerves and blood vessels (uncommon)
• Heterotopic ossification (calcification of the soft tissues)
• Injury to the nerves due to stretching from the injury, causing numbness, weakness, or paralysis
• Arthritis of the shoulder
• Arrest of normal bone growth in children (rare)
• Interruption of blood supply to the ball of the shoulder (humeral head) due to fracture displacement causing avascular necrosis

Treatment Considerations

If the fracture fragments are in appropriate alignment (position), the initial treatment consists of ice and medications to help relieve pain. Immobilization with a sling or shoulder immobilizer for up to six weeks is recommended to allow the bones to heal along with physical therapy to maintain passive range of motion. Displaced fractures (not in appropriate alignment) require surgery to restore and maintain the fracture in its normal position. Surgery usually involves repositioning the fracture fragments and maintaining their position with sutures, wires, rods, plates, screws, or pins. Fracture stability is necessary to allow early protected motion to prevent stiffness and functional loss of motion.
Following initial healing, moving proximate joints and stretching/strengthening muscles is important. Physical therapists often assist with the rehabilitation process.  Rehabilitation often requires four to six months following injury and/or surgery.

Possible Medications

Strong pain relievers may be prescribed as necessary. Use only as directed.

Modalities (Cold Therapy)

Cold is used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Cold should be applied for 10 to 15 minutes every two to three hours for inflammation and pain and immediately after any activity that aggravates your symptoms. Use ice packs or an ice massage with a cloth between the ice and your skin to prevent burning /freezing your skin.

Content provided by Dr. Chudik not to be used for diagnosis and treatment. You can receive a proper evaluation and diagnosis by making an appointment with Dr. Chudik