Possible injuries of the arms (upper extremity)

The possibilities of injuries to the arms (upper extremities) are manifold. Mostly they are caused by falls. By falling on the shoulder or the stretched out arm it can: come.

Falling on the wrist can result in a broken spoke (radius fracture). A step or fall on the forearm can cause a fracture in this area (forearm fracture).

For acromioclavicular joint dislocation (ACG dislocation)
A collarbone fracture (clavicula fracture)
For shoulder dislocation (shoulder luxation)
A fracture of the upper arm
Shoulder fracture or
Torn shoulder tendon (rotator cuff tear)

Shoulder injuries in soccer

A collarbone fracture (clavicula fracture) does not always have to be detected immediately. Usually the clavicle breaks in the middle of the bone shaft, less frequently at its lateral end and very rarely at the breastbone – close. There is usually a swelling above the clavicle, sometimes also a visible malposition in the sense of a bone step.

The affected arm is held in a protective position. Movements of the arm, especially the attempt to lift the arm, cause severe pain due to the friction of the fracture. Here, too, immediate cooling, immobilization and an early presentation to the accident doctor is recommended.

The soft tissues (nerves, blood vessels) under the collarbone are endangered by an unfavorable fracture shape and a strong fracture displacement. Slightly displaced clavicle fractures can be treated conservatively in a backpack bandage, more complicated fracture forms and in cases with neurological complications (sensory and movement disorders of the arm), surgical intervention becomes necessary. A shoulder joint dislocation occurs repeatedly.

In most cases, the shoulder dislocates forward and downward, i.e. the head of the humerus leaves the socket forward and downward, where it becomes entangled. Immediately after the accident there is an inability to move the shoulder joint.A large spherical structure (humeral head) is palpable in the front part of the shoulder, while an empty glenoid cavity impresses in the rear part of the shoulder. Dislocation of the shoulder can lead to injury to nerves and blood vessels.

For this reason, an accident physician should be consulted immediately to reposition the shoulder. Partial dislocations (subluxations) of the shoulder are possible. In this case, the head of humerus does not leave the shoulder joint completely.

In these cases, the head of humerus can also snap back spontaneously into its socket by an involuntary arm movement of the injured person. After successful shoulder reduction by the physician, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the shoulder is recommended to detect concomitant damage to the glenohumeral joint. This includes a torn rotator cuff and the tear of the anterior shoulder joint lip (labrum).

A rotator cuff tear is often the result of a dislocation of the shoulder. The rotator cuff is the muscle-tendon sheath of the muscles involved in the rotation of the shoulder joint. The supraspinatus muscle is usually affected. A rotator cuff tear alone is also possible, although less frequently and usually affects a previously damaged (worn, degenerative) tendon. Surgical reconstruction of the rotator cuff should be attempted because, in addition to their movement function, the tendons have an important function for centering the head of humerus in the socket.