Shoulder Fracture

🦴 Shoulder Fracture
🔹 Types
. Clavicle Fracture (Collarbone fracture)
. Most common shoulder fracture
. Usually caused by a fall on the shoulder or outstretched arm

Proximal Humerus Fracture

Fracture of the upper part of the arm bone, near the shoulder joint

Common in elderly with osteoporosis

Scapula Fracture

Rare (protected by chest & muscles)

Usually occurs due to high-energy trauma (car accidents, falls from height)

🔹 Causes

Falls (common in elderly)

Sports injuries (cycling, football, skiing)

Road traffic accidents 🚗

Direct trauma to shoulder

🔹 Symptoms

Severe pain in shoulder/upper arm

Swelling & bruising around the shoulder

Deformity (in displaced fractures)

Inability to move the arm

Grinding/clicking sensation on movement

Sometimes numbness/tingling if nerves are injured

🔹 Diagnosis

X-ray (first step)

CT scan (to assess complex fractures, especially scapula or humerus head)

MRI (if soft tissue/rotator cuff injury suspected)

🔹 Treatment
1. Non-Surgical (Conservative)

For non-displaced fractures

Arm sling/immobilizer for 3–6 weeks

Pain management

Early physiotherapy after bone starts healing

2. Surgical

Indications:

Displaced or comminuted fractures

Fractures involving the joint surface

Open fractures

Associated nerve or vessel injury

Options:

ORIF (Open Reduction & Internal Fixation) with plates, screws, or pins

Intramedullary nails/rods for certain humerus fractures

Shoulder replacement (Arthroplasty) in severe fractures (common in elderly with proximal humerus fractures)

🔹 Complications

Shoulder stiffness

Non-union or malunion (bone not healing properly)

Rotator cuff injury (esp. with proximal humerus fractures)

Arthritis (if joint surface is involved)

Nerve or vessel injury

🔹 Recovery

Bone healing: 6–12 weeks (varies with bone & age)

Full recovery of movement: 3–6 months with physiotherapy

Elderly may take longer & sometimes need shoulder replacement for function