Brief overview
- What to do in case of a broken arm? Immobilize arm, depending on the fracture, cool if necessary (closed arm fracture) or cover with sterile drapes (open arm fracture), call ambulance, reassure patient.
- Risks of arm fracture: Accompanying injuries to tendons, muscles, ligaments, etc., as well as complications (including circulatory problems).
- When to see a doctor? To avoid possible permanent deformities and movement restrictions as well as complications, you should always go to the doctor with a broken arm.
- Never try to “straighten” a broken arm with a malposition!
- If possible, avoid moving a broken arm and make sure that the affected person also keeps the arm still. Otherwise, the injury could worsen.
- If the wound bleeds heavily in the case of an open arm fracture, an attempt should be made to squeeze off the corresponding vessels. However, you must not apply a pressure bandage to or on a fracture.
Broken arm: First aid
- Immobilize the affected arm, e.g. by padding it with a rolled-up jacket or blanket or also by securing the arm using a triangular cloth.
- In the case of a closed arm fracture, you can carefully cool the swelling that is probably present with a cold pack or ice pack (do not place directly on the skin, but with a layer of fabric in between!).
- Cover the wound of an open arm fracture with a sterile wound dressing. This prevents the penetration of germs and thus a wound infection.
- Talk to the injured person and explain every first aid step. This builds confidence and reassures. If any touching or movement triggers sounds of pain, painful twitching or similar in the casualty, stop what you are doing.
If a joint (like the wrist) is broken, it makes no difference for first aid. Treat this injury the same as a “normal” broken bone.
Broken arm in a child
Romping, jumping, climbing, or racing wildly down slopes on skis – it’s easy for a child to break an arm (or sustain some other injury). An arm fracture in a child is different from that in an adult.
Since a young green branch bends similarly, doctors also call such a fracture greenwood fracture. It usually heals well. However, if growth joints are injured, this can disrupt the child’s bone growth and lead to malpositions.
Broken arm: Risks
Possible risks and complications of a broken arm include:
- Associated injuries: In most cases, not only does the bone break, but the skin, tendons, ligaments or muscles, and possibly nerves and vessels are also damaged. The doctor must also treat these injuries.
- Compartment syndrome: Here, swelling and bruising cause a dangerous increase in pressure in a muscle compartment (group of muscles surrounded by a barely stretchable fascia). The increased pressure impairs blood flow to the muscle tissue, causing it to die. A compartment syndrome must therefore be operated on as quickly as possible.
Broken arm: When to the doctor?
Anyone who has broken an arm always needs medical help! Because without treatment, the ends of the bones may grow together incorrectly and the function of the arm may remain permanently restricted.
Broken arm: Examinations by the doctor
If a broken arm is present or suspected, the physician will first obtain important background information by speaking with the patient or first responder (history). For example, he may ask:
- How did the accident happen?
- Are you in pain and is the mobility of the arm restricted?
- Have there been any previous complaints, illnesses (e.g. osteoporosis) or movement restrictions?
Imaging procedures are necessary to determine with certainty whether an arm bone is broken: In adults, the affected arm is x-rayed. In children, on the other hand, doctors usually perform an ultrasound examination so that they do not unnecessarily expose the young patients to X-rays.
Further testing may be required, such as electromyography (EMG) – a neurological examination of electrical muscle activity in the area of injury.
Forms of arm fracture
You can learn more about the causes and treatment of this injury in the article Wrist fracture.
Osteoporosis patients are also quite susceptible to a fracture of the humeral head. The humeral head is the rounded end of the upper arm bone (humerus) near the shoulder.
You can read everything important about this form of arm fracture in the article Humeral head fracture.
Learn more about this type of dislocation fracture in the article Monteggia fracture.
Broken arm: Treatment by the doctor
The goal of therapy for a broken arm is to restore weight-bearing to the bone as soon as possible. Depending on the type and severity of the arm fracture and the general health of the patient, the doctor may treat conservatively or surgically.
- Surgical treatment: Here, the doctor has various options depending on the fracture and accompanying injuries. For example, he can fix the ends of the fracture in the desired position with nails, wires or plates.
In the case of a broken arm, the healing time is usually about six weeks.
Prevent arm fracture
General caution is most likely to prevent such accidental injuries. So, for example, be focused and attentive in road traffic (whether as a driver, cyclist or pedestrian). Follow safety rules and pay attention to where you step when walking or running (for example, on stairs or in rough terrain).
