Broken Arm

A broken arm is a common injury. About one in every 20 fractures involve the upper arm bone (humerus). Children are more likely to break the lower arm bones (radius and ulna).

Falling on an outstretched hand or being in a car crash or some other type of accident is usually the cause of a broken arm.

Symptoms

Most people know right away if their arm broke, because there may be a snap or a loud cracking sound. The broken arm may appear deformed and be swollen, bruised, and bleeding.

A person with a broken arm usually has:

• Extreme pain at the site of the injury.
• Pain increased by any movement.
• Loss of normal use of the arm.

Diagnosis

The doctor will need to know exactly what happened. He or she will examine the broken arm and check for other injuries, such as nerve damage.

The doctor may want to see if the patient can flex and extend the wrist and fingers.

Sometimes, the doctor may use X-rays or other diagnostic imaging tools to see the bones of both the injured and uninjured arms.

If the patient is a child, the long bones of the arm are probably still growing. This makes the examination for any damage to growth plates very important.

Treatment

First Aid

First, make sure the injured person is out of the way of further harm.

• Emergency services should be called if there is serious bleeding or if there is reason to suspect multiple broken bones or other injuries.
• Do not try to move the broken arm. This can cause further damage to blood vessels, nerves, and soft tissues.
• If a broken bone sticks out from the skin (open fracture), do not try to push it back in.

Second, make sure the patient is stabilized.

• Check that the breathing is normal and the pulse is good.
• Bleeding can be slowed and swelling reduced by applying pressure and elevating the injured arm above the level of the person’s heart.
• Avoid contaminating the area by lightly covering the site with a clean, dry cloth or bandage until medical help arrives.

Third, if medical help is not available, and the patient must be moved, immobilize the broken arm using a temporary splint and/or sling.

• Temporary Splints
  A temporary splint can be made using wood or rolled up magazines. The joint should be immobilized above and below the site of the injury. Each end of the splint should extend far beyond the injured region and fastened using cloth, belts, or tape. Avoid any constriction of the arm with the supporting strap.
• Slings
  A sling can stabilize the injury and support the splint. A broken arm sling can be as simple as a loop of cloth supported from the neck.

Fourth, take the injured person to a doctor or emergency room right away.

Nonsurgical Treatment

The doctor may need to move pieces of bone back into their correct positions (a process called reduction). Depending upon the severity of injury, the patient may or may not need anesthesia. Those with more serious fractures may require surgery.

With the broken bone back in place, the doctor immobilizes the arm (fracture bracing). Most patients are fitted with a cast or splint. The doctor tells the patient how long to wear the cast or splint and removes it at the right time.

Rehabilitation

It may take from several weeks to several months for the broken arm to heal completely. Rehabilitation involves gradually increasing activities to restore muscle strength, joint motion and flexibility.

The patient’s cooperation is essential to the rehabilitation process. The patient must complete range of motion, strengthening and other exercises prescribed by the doctor. Rehabilitation continues until the muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues perform their functions normally.

Once rehabilitation is completed, the doctor may want to examine the arm and its function to make sure healing is complete.