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Fracture Fixation Around Shoulder Joint
Fracture Fixation Around Shoulder Joint
Trauma may cause a fracture of the humerus (ball) or the glenoid (socket) of the shoulder joint. The majority of these injuries can be treated without surgery with a good, long-term result. Some fractures are better treated with surgery because they may carry a high risk of arthritis if left alone. Some are unlikely to heal, or may heal in the wrong position if not treated surgically. Fractures are either described as being displaced or non-displaced. Fortunately, nearly 80 percent of all shoulder fractures are non-displaced.
Shoulder Fracture Fundamentals
Trauma may cause a fracture of the humerus (ball) or the glenoid (socket) of the shoulder joint. The majority of these injuries can be treated without surgery with a good, long-term result. Some fractures are better treated with surgery because they may carry a high risk of arthritis if left alone. Some are unlikely to heal, or may heal in the wrong position if not treated surgically.
Fractures are either described as being displaced or non-displaced. Fortunately, nearly 80 percent of all shoulder fractures are non-displaced. This implies that the broken pieces remain near their anatomic position and treatment merely requires immobilization in a sling until the bone fragments heal. Most shoulder fractures heal in about six weeks. About 20 percent of shoulder fractures are displaced and may require some type of manipulation to restore normal anatomy.
Occasionally the rotator cuff muscles are injured or torn at the same time as the fracture. This can further complicate the treatment.
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What are the symptoms?
- Shoulder Pain
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Deformity or “bump” at the site of the fracture
- Discoloration around the upper arm
- Inability to normally move the arm without pain
What are my treatment options?
Medical
Most non-displaced fractures require immobilization in a sling until the fracture heals enough to be comfortable and permit motion without risk of dislodging the fracture fragments. X-rays are used to determine if sufficient healing has occurred to permit motion exercises.
It is vital to maintain flexibility of the elbow, wrist and fingers while resting the shoulder. With your doctor’s guidance, you may commence shoulder movement as the fracture heals. If the arm is moved too early, this can delay healing, but too little movement will result in stiffness.
Surgical
If the fracture fragments are displaced, surgical procedures may be necessary to bring the pieces together and fix them with wires, pins, plates or screws.
If the ball portion of the upper arm is broken, split or crushed, a shoulder replacement may become necessary.
Because the majority of shoulder fractures are non-displaced, recovery of good to excellent motion and function is often achieved. Displaced fractures often require surgery and may result in injury to the adjacent muscles. This can result in more shoulder pain, weakness and residual discomfort.
What happens after surgery?
We will ensure that you are comfortable and that you have adequate shoulder pain relief. You will receive prescriptions, etc., and your arm will be rested in a sling. Your surgeon and/or physical therapist will let you know whether any exercises are required.