According to the ICD-10, humerus fracture can be classified as follows:
- Fracture of the proximal (“leaning toward the body”) end of the humerus (S42.2)
- Fractura tuberculi majoris (The head is flanked by two bony prominences (tuberculum majus = major and tuberculum minus = minor)).
- Fractura colli anatomici (synonym: subcapital humerus fracture, i.e., the intra- or extra-articular breaking off of the humeral head)
- Fractura pertubercularis (synonym: fractura transtubercularis).
- Fractura colli chirurgici (synonym: collum fracture, as humeral epiphyseal solution).
- Fracture of the shaft of the humerus (S42.3).
- Fracture of the distal (“away from the body”) end of the humerus (S42.4)
Classification of humerus fracture according to Neer.
Type | Type description |
Neer 1 | Non-displaced or minimally displaced fracture |
Neer 2 | 2-fragment fracture in the area of the collum anatomicum |
Neer 3 | 2-fragment fracture ad axim, -ad latus, – with zone of comminution in the region of the collum surgicum |
Neer 4 | 2-fragment fracture, 3-fragment fracture, 4-fragment fracture in the region of the greater tuberosity |
Neer 5 | 2-fragment fracture, 3-fragment fracture, 4-fragment fracture in the area of the tuberculum minus |
Neer 6 | Luxation fracture (a partial or complete luxation with a fracture ) with anterior or posterior head luxation, respectively |
Classification of humeral fracture according to the Association for the Study of Osteosynthesis (AO classification).
Type | Type description |
A1 | Extraarticular (“outside the joint capsule”) unifocal fracture, tubercular
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A2 | Extraarticular unifocal fracture, metaphyseal (section of bone between diaphysis (bone shaft) and epiphysis/bone ends) impacted (jammed; wedged)
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A3 | Extraarticular unifocal fracture, metaphyseal not impacted
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B1 | Extraarticular bifocal fracture, metaphyseally impacted
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B2 | Extraarticular bifocal fracture, metaphyseal not impacted
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B3 | Extra-articular bifocal fracture, with glenohumeral luxtion.
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C1 | Articular fracture, slightly dislocated
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C2 | Articular fracture, clearly dislocated and impacted
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C3 | Articular fracture, with luxation
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