Humerus shaft fracture

Background

  • Peaks in third and seventh decades of life (young men and osteoporotic elderly women)
  • Occurs via direct blow or FOOSH
  • Common site of pathologic fractures (esp breast cancer)
  • Rule-out radial nerve injury (wrist drop - no ext of wrist, fingers, or thumb)

Clinical Features

  • Localized tenderness, swelling, pain

Imaging

  • Obtain views of humerus, elbow and shoulder

Differential Diagnosis

Humerus Fracture Types

Humeral anatomy

Management

  • Ice, sling and swathe, ortho referral
    1. Long Arm Posterior Splint or stable-coaptation splint (upper arm sugartong splint)/unstable-elephant ear

See Also

Source

  • Tintinalli
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