What is a fracture of a proximal humerus?
The fracture of the proximal humerus is to break the long bone of the upper arm at the shoulder joint. In a young person, such a break can happen after a serious trauma to the shoulder. A proximal fracture of the humerus may occur more often after an older person with osteoporosis has failed.
During the development of bones, four growth plates on the shoulder joint are formed at the end of the humerus. These boards are originally made of cartilage and give the flexibility of bones and allow it to grow. When the humerus bone achieves ripeness, the growth plates solidify into the bone. However, they are prone to a fracture if the patient falls and lands on her open hand.
The injured patient would usually have pain and swelling in the shoulder after a fracture of the proximal humerus. The patient's history and the description of the fall or trauma would indicate a fracture. To confirm the diagnosis, X -rays would be needed at several different angles. Comsecen stored tomography (CT) can also be done to provide a better view of the fracture.
Humera growth plates divide the proximal end on the arm into four parts: humoral head, larger tuberculus, smaller tubercul and diaphysis or shafts. Most of the proximal humerus fractures are considered undiscovered, which means that none of these four sections were separated by more than 0.39 inches (1 cm). Unlike fractures are usually treated with immobilization of the arm in a sling for 7-10 days. This allows gravity to keep humerus in the right place. Bone treatment should start in three to six weeks.
If any of the four end areas of the shoulder fracture are separated by more than 0.39 inches (1 cm), this is referred to as a relocated fracture. The displaced fractures are categorized as two -piece, three -piece or four -part fractures. In a two -part fracture, two different parts of the end area of the humerus would be displaced.
Most two -member and three -part fractures are treated surgically. A surgeon can make an open reductionI, which means that the shoulder is cut and fragments of bones are reduced or returned to the original location. Bone fragments are then secured on the site of pins, screws or plates.
heavy four -piece fractures should also be treated surgically, but the surgeon may decide to make hemiartroplasty. Hemierthroplasty is a procedure in which the shoulder joint is replaced by an artificial metal joint that extends into the hollow space in the center of the humerus. The joint is then workbook on the bones to hold it in place.
Physical therapy is an important part of healing after a fracture of the proximal humerus. The range of movement exercises usually starts two weeks after the operation. For complete recovery, the patient will have to be determined for therapy and close to the doctor.