Humeral Shaft Fracture

(Upper Arm Fracture)

How to Say It: Hu-merr-ull Shaft Fracture

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA

Definition

The humerus is the long bone in the upper arm. A humeral shaft fracture is a break in the long, narrow part of the bone.

Causes

This problem is caused by trauma to the bone from:

A motor vehicle crash
A twisting injury
Falling onto an outstretched hand
A blow to the bone

Risk Factors

Things that may raise the risk of this problem are:

Playing high-impact sports
Problems during childbirth (fracture in infant)

Symptoms

Problems may be:

Bruising
Swelling
Problems moving the arm
Pain that may be worse when moving the arm
Changes in how the arm looks
Change in feeling in the arm

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms, health history, and how the injury happened. An exam will be done. It will focus on your arm.

Images will be taken of the arm. This can be done with x-rays.

The Bones of the Body

Treatment

It may take 4 or longer to heal. The goals of treatment are to ease pain and swelling. Medicine can help. Other options are:

A splint, brace, or cast to keep the bone in line as it heals
Exercises to help with strength, flexibility, and range of motion

Children's bones have growth plates that let bones grow and harden with age. A child with a fracture may need to be checked over time to make sure the bone heals the right way and keeps growing.

Putting Bones Back in Place

Some fractures cause pieces of bone to come apart. These pieces will need to be put back into place. This may be done:

Without surgery—anesthesia will be used to ease pain while the doctor moves the pieces back into place
With surgery—pins, screws, plates, or a rod may be needed to reconnect the pieces and hold them in place

Prevention

To lower the risk of this type of fracture:

Wear safety equipment when playing sports or doing activities.
Always wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a motor vehicle.
Do not put yourself at risk for trauma to the bone.

RESOURCES:

Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.familydoctor.org

Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://www.orthoinfo.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

References:

Humeral shaft fracture. Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America website. Available at: https://posna.org/Physician-Education/Study-Guide/Humeral-Shaft-Fractures. Accessed July 29, 2021.

Humeral shaft fracture—emergency management. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T902926/Humeral-shaft-fracture-emergency-management. Accessed July 29, 2021.

Updegrove GF, Mourad W, et al. Humeral shaft fractures. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018 Apr;27(4):e87-e97.

Last reviewed July 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM
Last Updated: 7/29/2021

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