A fracture of one of 3 arm bones (including the ulna, radius, and humerus) is called a broken arm. Falling onto an outstretched hand is one of the most common causes of a broken arm. Seek emergency care if you think you or your child has a broken arm. Immediate treatment is important to ensure the fracture is healing properly.
The treatment is often different among people with a broken arm because it depends on several factors. These include the severity and location of the trauma, overall health, and others. In mild cases, the break can be treated with a sling, ice, and rest, but anyway requires a bone alignment (reduction) in the emergency room.
In severe cases, people require surgery that involves implant wires, nails, screws, or plates to keep the bone in right position during healing.
Symptoms
Commonly, the first sign of a broken arm is a cracking or snapping sound. Check below for other symptoms of a broken arm:
- Severe pain
- Deformity
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Inability to turn the arm
If the pain is so severe that you cannot use the arm, seek medical help right away. A broken arm requires immediate treatment, especially in children. Otherwise, it may lead to poor healing.
Causes
Check below the most common causes of a broken arm:
- Falls – The most common cause of a broken arm is falling onto an outstretched hand or elbow.
- Sports injuries – injuries on the field or court, and direct blows, may cause fractures of the arm.
- Severe trauma – These include bike or car accidents that cause direct trauma.
- Child abuse – Sometimes, a broken arm in a child is caused by physical abuse.
Risk Factors
There are some factors that could elevate your risk of a broken arm. Examples include:
- Sports – All sports that involve physical contact or increased risk of falling (such as football, soccer, gymnastics, skiing, skateboarding, and others) significantly increase the risk of arm fractures.
- Bone abnormality – Certain conditions (such as osteoporosis) and bone tumors also significantly increase the risk of a broken arm. In such cases, the condition is called a pathological fracture.
What Are The Possible Broken Arm Complications?
With early treatment, the prognosis of a broken arm is very good. However, people may experience some complications. For example:
- Uneven growth – This complication happens mostly in children because the bones are still growing.
- Osteoarthritis – In such cases, the fracture extends to the joints and causes arthritis.
- Stiffness – Almost all people with a broken arm need immobilization to heal properly. Therefore, it may cause stiffness, muscle weakness, and other symptoms.
- Bone infection – When the broken bone protrudes through the skin, it is exposed to multiple bacteria that may lead to infection. It is essential to get treatment against infections and fractures.
- Nerve and blood vessel injuries – During a fracture, the bones may damage nearby nerves and blood vessels. Go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 in the U.S. if you experience numbness or circulation problems.
- Compartment syndrome – This complication causes excessive swelling of the damaged arm. It may also limit blood flow to the arm, which leads to pain and numbness. Generally, this syndrome is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
How to Prevent a Broken Arm?
While it is roughly impossible to prevent an accident, the following tips may help protect against bone breakage. For example:
- Adopt a healthy diet – These include Calcium-rich foods (such as milk, yogurt, and cheese), vitamin D that can be found in fatty fish (such as salmon), fortified foods (such as orange juice and milk), and from sun exposure.
- Bone strength exercises – There are a lot of exercises that help to improve balance and posture. These exercises may also improve bone strength and reduce the risk of fractures.
- Prevent falls—Wear sensible shoes, remove home hazards that may cause you to trip, and take other precautions.
- Protective equipment – You should wear wrist guards, especially for high-risk activities (including snowboarding, rugby, football, and skating).
- Quit smoking – Tobacco products significantly increase the risk of a broken arm because they reduce bone mass.
Diagnosis
First, physicians will perform a physical examination to check for irregularities linked with a broken arm. Thereafter, they may perform certain tests to confirm the condition. These include X-rays, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, and others.
Treatment
Doctors usually recommend different treatments for people with a broken arm because it depends on the type of break, the severity of the condition, overall health, age, and other factors. Check below some types of fractures:
- Open (compound) fracture – When it occurs, the bone pierces the skin. In such cases, people need immediate treatment to prevent infection.
- Closed fracture – This type of fracture does not break the skin.
- Displaced fracture – In such cases, broken bones are not aligned. Thus, people often require surgery to treat this type of fracture.
- Comminuted fracture – It happens when the bone is broken into pieces. Commonly, it is treated with surgery.
- Greenstick fracture – This type occurs when the bone breaks but not completely, and it looks like a bent green stick of wood. Commonly, this type of fracture happens in children because their bones are softer and more flexible.
- Buckle (torus) fracture – This type is also more common in children, and it happens when one side of the bone is compressed, which leads to the other side to buckle (bend).
The treatment usually begins with setting the bone for people who experience a displaced fracture. Doctors may also prescribe a muscle relaxant or sedative before this procedure.
Immobilization
All people who experience a broken arm need to restrict movement. Furthermore, they require a splint, sling, brace, or cast that is essential to healing. During recovery, doctors may recommend additional X-rays to make sure the bone heals in a proper position.
Medicines
For people who experience mild to moderate pain and swelling, physicians may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers (such as Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, and others) or prescription painkillers for people who experience severe pain.
There are other medicines that may help with pain and swelling, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, these medicines may slow bone healing, especially if it is used for long periods. Consult with your healthcare professional before using NSAIDs.
People with an open fracture may need antibiotics to reduce the risk of infections.
Therapy
These treatments are recommended by physicians to minimize stiffness in the arm, hand, and shoulder while healing. After the cast or sling is removed, you may need physical therapy to restore muscle strength and joint flexibility.
Surgery
Healthcare professionals recommend this treatment for some fractures only. Usually, if the fracture did not break the skin, people do not need surgery. During this procedure, doctors may use some fixation devices including wires, plates, nails, or screws to hold the bones in correct position during healing. While surgery complications are rare, some people may experience infection and a lack of bone healing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell if my arm is broken?
If you notice the following symptoms, you may have a broken arm. These include severe pain, swelling, bruising, deformities, and inability to use or move the arm as usual. If any of the previous symptoms occur, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911 in the U.S.
How long does a broken arm take to heal?
Generally, a broken arm heals within 6 to 8 weeks, but the recovery time differs among people because it depends on multiple factors. For example, the severity of the break, the exact location of the fracture, age, existing health problems, and others.
What happens if a broken arm goes untreated?
People who ignore the symptoms and do not treat a broken arm may experience some complications. These include:
- Malunion (in such cases, the bone is healing in a misaligned position)
- Nonunion (bone failing to heal)
- Chronic pain
- Decreased mobility
- Infections
- Bleeding
- Compartment syndrome
- Avascular necrosis
- Nerve damage
This document does not contain all possible complications of a broken arm. If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare provider.
