Fractured Arm also called broken arm, can occur on one of the three main arm bones; humerus, ulna, and radius.
What are the Symptoms of Arm Fracture
- Physical symptoms include arm pain and arm that is swollen, bruised, bleeding, and crooked
- The person might also feel tenderness, tingling sensation, limited motion, but in other cases numbness of the affected area when damage is extended to the nerves
- Shortening of the injured arm compared to the well one.
- Visible bone through broken skin in open fracture cases
How to Treat a Fractured Arm
- Diagnosis is first done with x-ray, CT scan or MRI after an evaluation by the physician through taking of the accident’s history and a physical exam focusing on the injured area searching for possible nerve or blood vessel damage
First Aid
- Stabilize arm by using a towel as sling. Rolled and taped paper or a board can be taped to the injured area to prevent its movement, avoiding additional damage
- Ice application to the injured area for 20 – 30 minutes to reduce pain and swelling of the injury. Ice should not be directly applied and should be wrapped in a towel or bag
Medical Treatment
- A splint and a partial cast is put on the fracture to stabilize the broken bone
- In addition to the cast and sling, pain killers are also prescribed by the physician
- For severe fractures, surgical procedure is done with plates, screws and metal rods after which antibiotics usually intravenous are given to prevent infection of the exposed bone
- Physical therapy is done to restore normal strength and range of motion of the injured arm
Fractured Arm Healing Time
- Healing time for fracture of the upper arm is 4 – 10 weeks, lower arm is 6 weeks and the wrist is 4 – 12 weeks