How to recognize a broken arm and what to do next

What is a broken arm

Arm Fracture - Harvard Health of the arm is a crack or fracture in any of the three bones that make up the upper limb: the humerus, radius, or ulna.

When an arm is broken, one of its three bones is injured

This is a common injury that most often occurs when falling onto an outstretched arm. In most cases, the bone can be successfully restored with a plaster cast or a special splint. But there are also more serious situations that require surgical intervention.

At the slightest suspicion of a fracture, an urgent need to contact the nearest emergency room or emergency department. Don't waste your time. It is important.

How to understand that this is a broken arm

The hand usually breaks with a characteristic click or crack. This soundtrack may be the first sign of a Broken arm - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic fracture. But others will surely arise:

Severe pain that becomes more noticeable when moving. Because of this, the person cannot use the hand.
Numbness of the limb.
Restricted mobility. If you place your hand palm up, you cannot turn it palm down in the usual twisting motion.
Marked swelling in the area of the proposed fracture. Puffiness may not appear immediately, but build up over several hours.
Bruises, subcutaneous hemorrhages.
Visible deformity of the hand. For example, it may be bent in an unnatural way.

To suspect a fracture, it is enough that one or two symptoms appear immediately after the impact or fall.

Why you need to seek help as soon as possible

Fractures heal well if they are treated as early as possible. But if you decide to stall for time, serious complications can develop Broken arm - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. Including deadly ones.

Stopping bone growth in children. In childhood, the limbs are still lengthened. This happens due to the growth zones that are located at the edges of each bone. If this area is affected by the fracture, lengthening may stop. And this will lead to the fact that by adulthood, one arm will become shorter than the other.
Osteoarthritis. Fractures affecting the joint can, years later, lead to inflammation - arthritis.
Stiffness of movement. Incorrectly fused bone often leads to limitation of arm mobility.
Bone infection. In an open fracture, when the bone breaks through the skin and comes out, it can be attacked by microbes that can cause an infection. This is dangerous as it can lead to bone destruction and blood poisoning.
Damage to nerves or blood vessels. If sharp fragments form on the bone during an injury (this is the so-called comminuted fracture), they can rupture nearby blood vessels or nerve endings. This can be seen by numbness, swelling and bruising. If you do not see a doctor quickly, your arm may become permanently immobile.
Compartmental syndrome. Excessive swelling may also cause blood flow to the arm to stop. That is, tissues, including muscle and bone, will begin to die off. Compartmental syndrome usually appears 1-2 days after injury. The beginning of the process can be seen by pain and severe numbness in the affected arm. This violation is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention from a surgeon.

How to treat a broken arm

First, you will get an x-ray to find out what condition the bone is in.

If the fracture is confirmed, the surgeon will apply a plaster cast or splint to the affected limb. This is important to enable the bones to heal. To relieve pain, your doctor will suggest pain relievers and muscle relaxants to relieve muscle spasms.

If the swelling is very large, the arm will be fixed with a temporary bandage. A plaster cast will be applied a few days later, when the swelling subsides.

Surgery is sometimes required. Usually it is necessary for complex fractures with displacement or formation of fragments. In these cases, the bone must first be “assembled” by setting all its elements in the correct position. This procedure is called "reduction". It is performed under local or general anesthesia.

How long does a broken arm take to heal?

It takes four weeks in a cast for the bone to heal after a simple fracture. If the injury was more serious and surgery was needed, the cast will have to be worn for up to 12 weeks, and sometimes longer.

After the doctor removes the plaster cast, rehabilitation may be required. A specialist will recommend physical exercises that will help restore mobility and muscle strength to the limbs. Sometimes it takes up to 6 months.