Broken Arm

Black Widow vs. Brown Recluse Slideshow

• Broken Arm Overview
• Broken Arm Causes
• Broken Arm Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Broken Arm Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Multimedia
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Broken Arm Overview

A broken or fractured arm means that one or more of the bones of the arm have been cracked. This is a common injury occurring in both children and adults. In adults, fractures of the arm account for nearly half of all broken bones. In children, fractures of the forearm are second only to broken collarbones.

• Basic anatomy: The arm consists of 3 major bones. The humerus runs from the shoulder to the elbow. This is called the upper arm, or, simply, the arm. At the elbow, the humerus connects with 2 bones: the radius and the ulna. These bones go from the elbow to the wrist and are regarded as the forearm.
  
  
• Important terms related to a broken arm
  
  
  • Alignment: The relationship of how the broken portions of the bone come together. This is an indication of how badly a bone is broken.
    
    
  • Angulation: The angle formed by the broken pieces of bone. Another measure of the seriousness of the break.
    
    
  • Closed fracture: A broken bone without an open skin wound
    
    
  • Comminuted fracture: A bone that is broken in multiple pieces
    
    
  • Dislocation: A bone that has come out of a joint
    
    
  • Displaced fracture: A broken bone with the parts of the bone not aligned
    
    
  • Fracture: A crack in the bone. This is another word for a broken bone.
    
    
  • Fracture-dislocation: A broken bone that has also come out of a joint
    
    
  • Greenstick fracture: An incomplete fracture seen in children where only one side of the bone is broken
    
    
  • Malunion: Healing of the bone in an unsatisfactory position
    
    
  • Nonunion: Failure of the pieces of bone to heal back together
    
    
  • Occult fracture: A broken bone that does not appear initially on the x-rays
    
    
  • Open fracture (compound fracture): A fracture that has a laceration in the skin overlying the break or a fracture that has a piece of bone sticking through the skin
    
    
  • Pathologic fracture: A broken bone that is due to a weakness of the bone itself from some other disease