A direct impact on the shoulder or falling onto an outstretched hand can lead to a fractured neck of the humerus. It is a bone that is located at the top of the arm, which forms the glenohumeral joint after fitting into shoulder socket or glenoid.
The humerus neck is at the top of the bone and a break in it results in a fracture, which can happen to an elderly person as well as younger people and children for a variety of reasons. Slipping and falling is a common reason. Tripping over something and hitting the ground with force can cause this injury to occur. Many times children fall off some bars they are playing on or fall out of a tree they are climbing and experience this type of injury.
Honorable, pragmatic, and board-certified orthopedic surgeons at the Thomas & Bigler Knee & Shoulder Institute provide treatments for humerus fracture to patients in Las Vegas, Nevada, and surrounding locations in The Sagebrush State.
Treatment
A fracture that has more than two fragments, such as those with a displacement over 1 cm or leading to shoulder dislocation usually requires a surgery.
An orthopedic surgeon will treat a displaced fracture more conservatively, and try to avoid surgery. Such fractures heal quickly and the patient is asked to wear a broad arm sling. They are best treated with a cuff and collar that allows gravity to rectify any angulation or misalignment.
The surgeon will advise the patient to keep the arm, which is in a sling, underneath the clothes for extra protection for the first two weeks. After two weeks, the patient will be prescribed shoulder joint pendular exercises.
From the fourth week onwards, the patient is allowed to wear the cuff and collar outside the clothes. Gradually, as the arm improves over the next two weeks, the cuff and collar are taken off.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Immobilization
The patient is made to wear a sling to provide arm immobilization and support. Another option is to use a swathe, which offers added support and reduces movement further as it is wrapped horizontally around the arm and chest.
The surgeon will usually prescribe arm immobilization for around two to three weeks. But the duration can vary depending on the patient’s medical condition, age, and fracture type.
Pain Management
A patient will be prescribed pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen during the healing process.
Range of Motion Exercises
The patient will be required to perform specific ROM exercises, but only after 7 to 10 days of sustaining the injury.
Physical Therapy
The surgeon may recommend physical therapy after 2 to 3 weeks of the injury.
Surgical Treatment
A broken proximal humerus will have to be surgically replaced or repaired. A surgeon may secure the bone pieces together with the help of screws, plates, and nails. If the surgery cannot repair the impacted bone, then the shoulder ball may have to be replaced during the surgery.
Surgery is usually recommended for fractures that involve rotator cuff attachments, displaced fractures in younger patients, cases where there is a head-split fracture in the humerus, injuries involving nerves and blood vessels, open fractures, or dislocated fractures.Awesome board certified orthopedic surgeons Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Gregory Bigler receive patients from Las Vegas, Nevada, and other towns and suburbs in this part of the state for the treatment of a fractured neck of the humerus.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or learn more about the Knee and Shoulder Institute procedures & treatments performed by Las Vegas, Nevada board certified surgeons Steven C. Thomas, MD and Gregory T. Bigler, MD. call (702) 933-9393; Physical Therapy (702) 933-9393.