About this topic
Your shoulder joint has many muscles. The shoulder has three bones: your upper arm bone, the shoulder blade, and the collarbone. A shoulder fracture can involve any of the bones in your shoulder. You may also have damage to the nerves and blood vessels in the shoulder. The way the doctor treats your shoulder fracture depends on where it is in your shoulder and how bad the break is. Your doctor may treat the fracture by limiting your arm movement or with surgery. ‚
What are the causes?
- Fall
- Car or motorcycle crash
- Strong hit or blow to the shoulder
- Gunshot wound to the shoulder
What are the main signs?
- Injured shoulder looks like it is in a different position than the other arm. One arm may hang lower than the other.
- Shoulder pain
- Muscle spasms
- Bruising and swelling
- Numbness and tingling that may go down the arm
- Weakness or trouble moving the arm
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
The doctor will feel around your shoulder. The doctor may have you try to move your shoulder. The doctor may order: ‚
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
The doctor will decide how to treat your fracture based on the kind of fracture and any tissue damage that happens. Your doctor may use a sling or strap that limits your shoulder from moving while it heals. Your doctor may also order: ‚
- Range of motion exercises
- Stretching exercises
- Surgery, including screws or plates to hold the bones together
- Shoulder replacement surgery
Are there other health problems to treat?
Your doctor will treat any damage to other tissue, such as blood vessels or nerves, as needed. Sometimes, your doctor may need to remove the top of the humerus, or humeral head, and replace it if the damage is severe. This is shoulder replacement surgery. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Prevent infection
- Help with pain and swelling
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Nerve or blood vessel damage
- Slow bone healing
- Frozen shoulder
- Arthritis in the shoulder
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/PDFs/A00065.pdf ‚
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00072 ‚
American Society for Surgery of the Hand ‚
http://handcare.assh.org/Portals/1/ShoulderFractures.pdf ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-03-31 ‚
List_set bdysylist
- Neuromuscular and Skeletal
- Therapy (Occupational, Physical, Speech, etc)
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Clinical Drug Information, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved. ‚