Diagnosis
A healthcare professional examines your arm for tenderness, swelling, unusual positioning and open wounds. You're asked about your symptoms and how the injury happened. To confirm the break and assess the severity, it is typical to have an X-ray. Sometimes, a CT scan, an MRI or another imaging study may be used for more-detailed images.
Treatment
Treatment for a broken arm depends on the type of fracture. Healing time varies based on factors such as the severity of the break, age, overall health and nutrition. Smoking and alcohol use may slow healing.
Types of fracture include:
- Open fracture, also called a compound fracture. The broken bone pierces the skin, creating a serious risk of infection. Immediate medical treatment is needed to lessen the risk of infection.
- Closed fracture. The bone is broken, but the skin remains intact.
- Displaced fracture. The bone fragments aren't aligned. Surgery may be needed to realign and stabilize the fragments.
- Comminuted fracture. The bone is broken into multiple pieces, often requiring surgery.
- Greenstick fracture. The bone cracks but doesn't break all the way, similar to bending a green twig. This type is common in children, whose bones are softer and more flexible.
- Buckle fracture, also called a torus fracture. One side of the bone is compressed, causing the other side to bend or buckle. This type of fracture also is more common in children due to their flexible bones.
Realigning the bone
If the bone fragments are out of place, your healthcare professional may need to manually move them back into position. This process is called reduction. Depending on your level of pain and swelling, you may need an injection of numbing medicine at the site of the fracture. You may need a muscle relaxant, a sedative or general anesthesia before the procedure.
Immobilization
To heal properly, the bone must not move This is done using a splint, sling, brace or cast.
Before applying a cast, your healthcare professional may wait 5 to 7 days for swelling to go down. During this time, you'll likely wear a splint at all times.
You typically return for X-rays during the healing process to ensure the bone remains in the correct position.
Medicines
To reduce pain and inflammation, your healthcare provider may pain reliever you can buy without a prescription. If your pain is severe, you may need a prescription for pain medicine for a few days.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also called NSAIDS, can help with pain. But they may slow bone healing, especially with long-term use. Ask your healthcare professional if you can take them for pain relief.
If the bone has pierced the skin, you may need antibiotics to prevent infection from spreading to the bone.
Therapy
Rehabilitation begins soon after treatment. If possible, gentle movement should begin early to prevent stiffness in your arm, hand and shoulder while you're wearing a cast or sling.
Once the cast or sling is removed, your healthcare professional may recommend rehabilitation exercises or physical therapy to help regain muscle strength, improve joint movement and restore flexibility.
Surgery
Some fractures need surgery to keep the bones stable while they heal. If the bone didn't break through the skin, your healthcare professional may wait until the swelling goes down before doing surgery. To help lessen swelling, you may be told to keep your arm still and raised. And you may be asked to gently move your fingers to prevent stiffness in those joints after they heal.
To hold the bones in place, your healthcare professional may use wires, plates, screws or nails. Complications are rare, but they include infection and slow bone healing.
Preparing for your appointment
Depending on the severity of the break, your healthcare professional or your care team in the emergency room may refer you or your child to an orthopedic surgeon. An orthopedic surgeon is a doctor who specializes in injuries affecting bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons.
What you can do
Make a list that includes:
- Details about your or your child's symptoms and the incident that caused them.
- Information about past medical conditions.
- All the medicines and dietary supplements you or your child takes.
- Questions to ask your healthcare professional.
For a broken arm, questions to ask include:
- What tests are needed?
- What is the best course of action?
- Is surgery necessary?
- What restrictions will I need to follow?
- Do you recommend seeing a specialist?
- What pain medicines do you recommend?
Don't hesitate to ask other questions.
What to expect from your doctor
Your healthcare professional is likely to ask you questions, including:
- What caused the symptoms?
- Did an injury trigger the symptoms?
- How severe are the symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to improve the symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen the symptoms?