Humerus fracture

This page is for adult patients. For pediatric patients, see: Humerus fracture (peds).

Background

Comminuted midshaft humeral fracture with callous formation

Humerus Fracture Types

Humeral anatomy

• Adult
  • Proximal
  • Shaft
  • Distal
    • Capitellum
    • Trochlea
    • Condylar
• Pediatric
  • Proximal
  • Shaft
  • Distal
    • Supracondylar
    • Lateral epicondyle
    • Medial epicondyle

Clinical Features

• History of trauma
• Pain over fracture site

Differential Diagnosis

Shoulder and Upper Arm Diagnoses

Traumatic/Acute:

• Shoulder Dislocation
  • Anterior shoulder dislocation
  • Posterior shoulder dislocation
  • Inferior shoulder dislocation
• Clavicle fracture
• Humerus fracture
• Scapula fracture
• Acromioclavicular joint injury
• Glenohumeral instability
• Rotator cuff tear
• Biceps tendon rupture
• Triceps tendon rupture
• Septic joint

Nontraumatic/Chronic:

• Rotator cuff tear
• Impingement syndrome
• Calcific tendinitis
• Adhesive capsulitis
• Biceps tendinitis
• Subacromial bursitis
• Cervical radiculopathy

Refered pain & non-orthopedic causes:

• Referred pain from
  • Neck
  • Diaphragm (e.g. gallbladder disease)
• Brachial plexus injury
  • Rucksack paralysis
• Axillary artery thrombosis
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Subclavian steal syndrome
• Pancoast tumor
• Myocardial infarction
• Pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism

Management & Disposition

General Fracture Management

• Acute pain management
• Open fractures require immediate IV antibiotics and urgent surgical washout
• Neurovascular compromise from fracture requires emergent reduction and/or orthopedic intervention
• Consider risk for compartment syndrome

Adult Humerus Fracture Management Table

Fracture	Splint	Disposition
Proximal	Sling and swathe splint, or coaptation splint	Non-emergent, but many need surgery, refer to ortho vs ED consult
Shaft	U-shaped coaptation splint (upper arm sugar-tong splint) + sling and swathe	R/o neurovasc injury and compartment syndrome, but many need surgery, refer to ortho vs ED consult
Elbow Fracture (Adult)	Long arm posterior splint	R/o neurovasc injury and compartment syndrome, but many need surgery, refer to ortho vs ED consult
Olecranon	Nondisplaced: Sling and Swathe Splint Displaced: Long Arm Posterior Splint or emerg. ORIF	R/o neurovasc injury and compartment syndrome, refer to ortho within 24 hrs

See Also

• Fractures (main)
• Splinting