What are the common causes of a broken arm. How can you identify the symptoms of an arm fracture. What should you do if you suspect a broken arm. When is immediate medical attention necessary for an arm injury. How are arm fractures diagnosed and treated.

Understanding Arm Fractures: Types and Anatomy

Arm fractures are among the most common bone injuries, affecting both children and adults. To fully comprehend the nature of these injuries, it’s crucial to understand the anatomy of the arm and the different types of fractures that can occur.

Arm Anatomy: The Three Major Bones

The arm consists of three primary bones:

• Humerus: This bone extends from the shoulder to the elbow, forming the upper arm.
• Radius: One of the two bones in the forearm, running from the elbow to the thumb side of the wrist.
• Ulna: The second forearm bone, positioned on the pinky side, also extending from the elbow to the wrist.

Understanding this basic anatomy is essential for identifying the location and severity of arm fractures.

Types of Arm Fractures

Arm fractures can be categorized based on their location and severity:

• Humerus fractures: Breaks in the upper arm bone
• Radial fractures: Breaks in the radius
• Ulnar fractures: Breaks in the ulna
• Compound fractures: When the broken bone pierces through the skin
• Greenstick fractures: Incomplete fractures common in children

Each type of fracture requires specific treatment approaches, making accurate diagnosis crucial for proper care.

Common Causes of Arm Fractures: From Falls to Direct Trauma

Arm fractures can result from various incidents, but two primary causes stand out: falls and direct trauma. Understanding these causes can help in prevention and immediate response to potential fractures.

Falls: The Most Common Culprit

Falls are the leading cause of arm fractures, especially when an individual attempts to break their fall with an outstretched hand. This instinctive reaction can lead to fractures anywhere from the wrist to the shoulder, depending on several factors:

• The direction and angle of the fall
• The age and bone density of the individual
• The surface onto which the person falls
• Any pre-existing conditions that may weaken the bones

Older adults and children are particularly susceptible to fall-related arm fractures due to their increased risk of falling and, in the case of older adults, potentially weakened bones.

Direct Trauma: When Force Meets Bone

Direct trauma is another significant cause of arm fractures. This type of injury occurs when a strong force is applied directly to the arm. Common scenarios include:

• Sports injuries, such as being hit by a ball or bat
• Vehicle accidents, where the arm may be impacted during a collision
• Workplace accidents involving machinery or heavy objects
• Physical altercations or assaults

The severity of fractures caused by direct trauma can vary greatly, from hairline cracks to complex, multi-fragment breaks.

Recognizing the Symptoms: Key Indicators of a Broken Arm

Identifying the symptoms of a broken arm is crucial for seeking timely medical attention. While symptoms can vary depending on the location and severity of the fracture, several common signs indicate a possible arm fracture.

Primary Symptoms of Arm Fractures

The most common symptoms of a broken arm include:

• Intense pain, especially when moving the arm
• Swelling around the injured area
• Visible deformity compared to the uninjured arm
• Bruising or discoloration of the skin
• Limited range of motion or inability to move the arm

In some cases, additional symptoms may indicate a more severe fracture:

• An open wound where the bone has pierced the skin
• Numbness or tingling sensations, suggesting nerve damage
• Paleness or coolness of the affected limb, indicating potential vascular issues

Differentiating Between Fractures and Sprains

Is it possible to mistake a fracture for a sprain? While both injuries can cause pain and swelling, certain symptoms are more indicative of a fracture:

• A snapping or grinding noise at the time of injury
• Severe pain that worsens with movement
• Obvious deformity of the arm
• Inability to bear weight or use the arm normally

If in doubt, it’s always best to seek medical evaluation to rule out a fracture and ensure proper treatment.

When to Seek Medical Care: Urgent vs. Non-Urgent Scenarios

Knowing when to seek medical care for a suspected arm fracture is crucial for proper treatment and recovery. While some cases may allow for a brief delay before consulting a doctor, others require immediate emergency attention.

Non-Urgent Scenarios: When to Call Your Doctor

In some cases, you may be able to contact your primary care physician first. Consider calling your doctor if you experience:

• Moderate pain that isn’t relieved by over-the-counter pain medications and ice
• Swelling or mild deformity of the arm
• Limited use of the affected arm
• Localized pain when pressure is applied to a specific area

Your doctor may advise you on home care or recommend that you visit an emergency department based on your symptoms.

Urgent Scenarios: When to Go to the Emergency Room

Certain symptoms indicate a need for immediate medical attention. Go directly to the hospital if you observe:

• Visible bone protruding through the skin
• Heavy bleeding from an open wound
• Complete loss of sensation or movement in part of the arm
• Severe deformity that looks drastically different from the arm’s normal appearance
• Loss of consciousness following the injury
• Multiple injuries in addition to the suspected arm fracture

These symptoms may indicate a severe fracture, nerve damage, or other complications that require immediate medical intervention.

Diagnosis of Arm Fractures: From Physical Examination to Advanced Imaging

Accurate diagnosis of arm fractures is essential for determining the appropriate treatment plan. Healthcare providers use a combination of physical examination and imaging techniques to assess the nature and severity of the fracture.

The Initial Evaluation: History and Physical Examination

When you arrive at a medical facility with a suspected arm fracture, the healthcare provider will begin with:

1. A detailed medical history, including how the injury occurred
2. A thorough physical examination of the affected arm

During the physical exam, the doctor will look for signs of fracture such as swelling, deformity, and areas of tenderness. They will also assess nerve function and blood circulation in the affected limb.

Imaging Techniques: X-rays and Beyond

After the initial examination, imaging studies are typically ordered to confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of the fracture. These may include:

• X-rays: The primary imaging tool for diagnosing bone fractures
• CT (Computed Tomography) scans: For more detailed images of complex fractures
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): To assess soft tissue damage or subtle fractures not visible on X-rays

In most cases, X-rays are sufficient for diagnosing arm fractures. At least two views of the arm are typically taken to provide a comprehensive look at the bone structure.

Challenges in Fracture Diagnosis

Are all fractures immediately visible on X-rays? Not always. Some fractures, particularly stress fractures or those in complex areas like the wrist, may not be apparent on initial X-rays. In these cases, healthcare providers may:

• Order additional imaging studies like CT scans or MRIs
• Recommend follow-up X-rays after a few days, when swelling has subsided
• Treat the injury as a fracture if clinical suspicion is high, even without clear X-ray evidence

This comprehensive approach ensures that even subtle fractures are identified and treated appropriately.

Treatment Approaches: From First Aid to Surgical Intervention

The treatment of arm fractures varies widely depending on the location, severity, and type of fracture. From immediate first aid to long-term rehabilitation, understanding the treatment process can help patients navigate their recovery more effectively.

Immediate First Aid: Stabilization and Pain Management

The initial treatment for a suspected arm fracture focuses on stabilization and pain relief:

• Immobilize the arm using a makeshift sling or splint
• Apply ice to reduce swelling and alleviate pain
• Elevate the arm above heart level if possible
• Avoid attempting to realign the bone or push it back under the skin if it’s protruding

These first aid measures can help prevent further injury and manage pain until professional medical care is available.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Many arm fractures can be treated without surgery. Non-surgical treatments may include:

• Casting or splinting to immobilize the broken bone
• Pain management through oral medications
• Physical therapy to maintain muscle strength and prevent stiffness

The duration of immobilization and the specific treatment plan will depend on the nature of the fracture and the patient’s overall health.

Surgical Interventions for Complex Fractures

In some cases, surgery may be necessary to properly align and stabilize the broken bone. Surgical options can include:

• Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF): Using plates, screws, or rods to hold the bone in place
• External fixation: Applying a stabilizing frame outside the body, connected to the bone with pins
• Intramedullary nailing: Inserting a rod through the center of the bone

The choice of surgical technique depends on the specific characteristics of the fracture and the patient’s individual circumstances.

Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care

After the initial treatment phase, rehabilitation plays a crucial role in recovery:

• Physical therapy to restore strength, flexibility, and range of motion
• Occupational therapy to help with daily activities and return to work
• Regular follow-up appointments to monitor healing progress

The rehabilitation process can take several weeks to months, depending on the severity of the fracture and the patient’s overall health status.

Preventing Arm Fractures: Strategies for Reducing Risk

While not all arm fractures can be prevented, there are several strategies individuals can employ to reduce their risk of experiencing this painful injury. Understanding and implementing these preventive measures can significantly decrease the likelihood of arm fractures in various situations.

Fall Prevention: The Key to Avoiding Many Arm Fractures

Given that falls are the leading cause of arm fractures, focusing on fall prevention is crucial. Here are some effective strategies:

• Improve home safety by removing tripping hazards and installing handrails
• Engage in balance-enhancing exercises like tai chi or yoga
• Ensure proper lighting in all areas of the home and workplace
• Wear appropriate footwear with good traction
• Use assistive devices like canes or walkers if recommended by a healthcare provider

For older adults, regular vision and hearing checks can also contribute to fall prevention by ensuring better awareness of the environment.

Bone Health: Building and Maintaining Strong Bones

Strong bones are more resistant to fractures. To improve and maintain bone health:

• Ensure adequate calcium and vitamin D intake through diet or supplements
• Engage in weight-bearing exercises regularly
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, which can weaken bones
• Consider bone density screenings, especially for those at higher risk of osteoporosis

For individuals with osteoporosis or low bone density, working closely with a healthcare provider to manage the condition can significantly reduce fracture risk.

Sports and Activity Safety: Protecting Against Trauma

For those engaged in sports or physical activities, taking proper safety precautions is essential:

• Wear appropriate protective gear for your sport or activity
• Follow proper technique and training guidelines to avoid overuse injuries
• Gradually increase the intensity and duration of physical activities
• Use proper equipment that fits well and is in good condition

Additionally, learning proper falling techniques, particularly in sports like skateboarding or martial arts, can help minimize the risk of arm fractures during falls.

Workplace Safety: Reducing Occupational Risks

In occupational settings, especially those involving manual labor or machinery, implementing safety measures is crucial:

• Follow all workplace safety protocols and use provided safety equipment
• Participate in safety training programs offered by employers
• Report potential hazards or unsafe conditions to supervisors
• Take regular breaks to avoid fatigue, which can increase accident risk

Employers should regularly assess and update safety measures to ensure a safe working environment for all employees.

By implementing these preventive strategies, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of experiencing arm fractures. However, it’s important to remember that accidents can still happen, and knowing how to respond to a potential fracture remains crucial for minimizing complications and ensuring proper treatment.

Broken Arm: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

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.

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.

Broken Arm Causes

Almost all injuries to the arm that result in a broken bone are caused in 2 ways: falls and direct trauma.

• The typical fall that produces a fracture occurs when you fall on your outstretched hand. The location of the fracture can be from the wrist up to the shoulder depending on the direction of the fall, the age of the person, and other factors that modify the stresses applied to the bone.

• Direct trauma can be from a direct blow from an object such as a bat, the trauma during a car accident, or any accident that causes the direct application of force to a part of the arm.

Broken Arm Symptoms

Most broken arms have these symptoms:

• A large amount of pain and increased pain when moving the arm
• Swelling
• Maybe an obvious deformity compared to the other arm
• Possible open wound either from the bone puncturing the skin or from the skin being cut during the injury
• Decreased sensation or inability to move the limb, which may indicate nerve damage

When to Seek Medical Care

Call your doctor after an accident if these signs are present:

• Significant pain that is not relieved by ice and home pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin)
• A large amount of swelling or mild deformity of the arm compared to the opposite arm
• Significant pain with use or limited use of the affected arm
• Pain in one specific part of the arm when it is pressed

Your doctor may advise you to go directly to a hospital’s emergency department. Under the following conditions, go directly to the hospital for emergency care:

• Visible bone sticking out through the skin
• Heavy bleeding from an open wound
• Complete lack of movement or sensation of part of the arm
• Obvious deformity that looks drastically different from the usual appearance
• Loss of consciousness
• Many other injuries

Exams and Tests

The initial evaluation by any physician, in the office or in the emergency department, begins with a thorough history and physical exam. By finding out the details of the accident, the doctor may be able to determine what damage was done based on the mechanism of the trauma.

After taking a history, the physician will do a complete physical exam with special focus on the painful areas. The doctor is looking for signs of a fracture (such as swelling or deformity) and checking for possible nerve or blood vessel damage.

X-rays are typically the test used to assess for broken bones. At least 2 views of the arm are taken. Initially, most broken bones will have an apparent fracture or other abnormality on the x-ray. Some fractures are not always visible on the first set of x-rays. In those instances, a CT scan or MRI may be done immediately for further evaluation, or follow-up x-rays may be obtained at a later date.

Broken Arm Treatment Self-Care at Home

• The most important aspect of first aid is to stabilize the arm. Do this by using a towel as a sling. Place it under the arm and then around the neck. An alternate approach to keep the arm from moving is to position a rolled and taped newspaper along the swollen area and to tape it in place.
• Apply ice to the injured area. This can help to decrease pain and swelling. Place ice in a bag and leave it on the arm for 20-30 minutes at a time. It may be helpful to place a towel around the ice bag or in between the bag and the skin to protect the skin from getting too cold. Never put ice directly on the skin.

Medical Treatment

The most important aspect of treating fractures is to determine which ones can be treated with outpatient care and which require admission to the hospital.

In most instances, the broken arm will be able to be treated in the emergency department.

• Most fractures will need to have a splint or partial cast applied to stabilize the broken bones. Some breaks especially in the upper arm and shoulder may only need to be immobilized in a sling.
• In addition to splinting the broken arm, the physician will prescribe medicines for pain control and ice to decrease swelling.
• Typically, wounds that warrant admission to the hospital are these:
  • Bones that have gone through the skin or have lacerations over the broken area
  • Fractures that are associated with nerve damage
  • Fractures that are associated with blood vessel damage
  • Complicated fractures that have multiple breaks, involve the joints, or are unable to be stabilized in the emergency department or doctor’s office

Next Steps Follow-up

Most broken arms will not require admission to the hospital. For all other fractures, the treating doctor will suggest you follow up with an orthopedic doctor (bone specialist). At that time, the orthopedist will determine what further care (continued splinting, casting, or surgery) is necessary based on the type of fracture.

Additional follow-up instructions for fractures include the following:

• Wear any support device (splint, sling, or brace, for example) until the doctor sees you for follow-up.
• Keep your splint or cast clean and dry.
• Apply ice to the injured area for 20-30 minutes 4-5 times a day.
• Keep your arm elevated above the heart as much as possible to decrease swelling. Use pillows to prop your arm while in bed or sitting in a chair.
• Take pain medicine as prescribed. Do not drink or drive if you are taking narcotic pain medication.
• Call your doctor for increased pain, loss of sensation, or if your fingers or hand turn cold or blue.

Prevention

There are 2 main ways to help prevent a broken arm.

• Wear appropriate personal safety equipment as protection. Wearing car seat belts, using wrist guards for in-line skating and skateboarding, and wearing appropriate pads for contact sports are all good ways to prevent bone fractures.

• Prevent and treat osteoporosis, the disease that causes bone loss, especially in older women. These women tend to have more fractures as they age. In this group, the use of calcium supplements and estrogen replacement would help to reduce the number of fractures resulting from weakened bones. The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. This is best done early in life by building stronger bones through a good diet and exercise. Women of all ages should discuss techniques for prevention and treatment of ongoing osteoporosis with their doctor.

Outlook

The majority of fractures heal and normal arm movement is restored.

Many of these factors based on the individual injury and medical history may determine the final outcome of a broken bone:

• Earlier treatment usually improves results.
• Fractures in younger children and adolescents tend to heal better.
• Fractures that have multiple breaks, involve a joint, have open wounds, or become infected could have healing complications.
• Older adults have an increased chance of losing some ability or movement in the broken arm.
• Chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and diabetes may slow the healing process.

Multimedia

Media file 1: Fractured forearm of both bones (radius and ulna). Photos courtesy of Courtney Bethel, MD, and Anthony Dean, MD.

Media file 2: Forearm fracture with multiple fragments

Media file 3: Upper arm fracture after casting

Media file 4: Forearm fracture (ulna) after splint application

Media file 5: Broken shoulder (humerus)

Media file 6: Fracture of the forearm in a child

Synonyms and Keywords

fractured arm, greenstick fracture, dislocation fracture, pathologic fracture, closed fracture, occult fracture, comminuted fracture, compound fracture, buckle fracture, Colles fracture, broken arm

Broken Arm: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

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.

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.

Broken Arm Causes

Almost all injuries to the arm that result in a broken bone are caused in 2 ways: falls and direct trauma.

• The typical fall that produces a fracture occurs when you fall on your outstretched hand. The location of the fracture can be from the wrist up to the shoulder depending on the direction of the fall, the age of the person, and other factors that modify the stresses applied to the bone.

• Direct trauma can be from a direct blow from an object such as a bat, the trauma during a car accident, or any accident that causes the direct application of force to a part of the arm.

Broken Arm Symptoms

Most broken arms have these symptoms:

• A large amount of pain and increased pain when moving the arm
• Swelling
• Maybe an obvious deformity compared to the other arm
• Possible open wound either from the bone puncturing the skin or from the skin being cut during the injury
• Decreased sensation or inability to move the limb, which may indicate nerve damage

When to Seek Medical Care

Call your doctor after an accident if these signs are present:

• Significant pain that is not relieved by ice and home pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin)
• A large amount of swelling or mild deformity of the arm compared to the opposite arm
• Significant pain with use or limited use of the affected arm
• Pain in one specific part of the arm when it is pressed

Your doctor may advise you to go directly to a hospital’s emergency department. Under the following conditions, go directly to the hospital for emergency care:

• Visible bone sticking out through the skin
• Heavy bleeding from an open wound
• Complete lack of movement or sensation of part of the arm
• Obvious deformity that looks drastically different from the usual appearance
• Loss of consciousness
• Many other injuries

Exams and Tests

The initial evaluation by any physician, in the office or in the emergency department, begins with a thorough history and physical exam. By finding out the details of the accident, the doctor may be able to determine what damage was done based on the mechanism of the trauma.

After taking a history, the physician will do a complete physical exam with special focus on the painful areas. The doctor is looking for signs of a fracture (such as swelling or deformity) and checking for possible nerve or blood vessel damage.

X-rays are typically the test used to assess for broken bones. At least 2 views of the arm are taken. Initially, most broken bones will have an apparent fracture or other abnormality on the x-ray. Some fractures are not always visible on the first set of x-rays. In those instances, a CT scan or MRI may be done immediately for further evaluation, or follow-up x-rays may be obtained at a later date.

Broken Arm Treatment Self-Care at Home

• The most important aspect of first aid is to stabilize the arm. Do this by using a towel as a sling. Place it under the arm and then around the neck. An alternate approach to keep the arm from moving is to position a rolled and taped newspaper along the swollen area and to tape it in place.
• Apply ice to the injured area. This can help to decrease pain and swelling. Place ice in a bag and leave it on the arm for 20-30 minutes at a time. It may be helpful to place a towel around the ice bag or in between the bag and the skin to protect the skin from getting too cold. Never put ice directly on the skin.

Medical Treatment

The most important aspect of treating fractures is to determine which ones can be treated with outpatient care and which require admission to the hospital.

In most instances, the broken arm will be able to be treated in the emergency department.

• Most fractures will need to have a splint or partial cast applied to stabilize the broken bones. Some breaks especially in the upper arm and shoulder may only need to be immobilized in a sling.
• In addition to splinting the broken arm, the physician will prescribe medicines for pain control and ice to decrease swelling.
• Typically, wounds that warrant admission to the hospital are these:
  • Bones that have gone through the skin or have lacerations over the broken area
  • Fractures that are associated with nerve damage
  • Fractures that are associated with blood vessel damage
  • Complicated fractures that have multiple breaks, involve the joints, or are unable to be stabilized in the emergency department or doctor’s office

Next Steps Follow-up

Most broken arms will not require admission to the hospital. For all other fractures, the treating doctor will suggest you follow up with an orthopedic doctor (bone specialist). At that time, the orthopedist will determine what further care (continued splinting, casting, or surgery) is necessary based on the type of fracture.

Additional follow-up instructions for fractures include the following:

• Wear any support device (splint, sling, or brace, for example) until the doctor sees you for follow-up.
• Keep your splint or cast clean and dry.
• Apply ice to the injured area for 20-30 minutes 4-5 times a day.
• Keep your arm elevated above the heart as much as possible to decrease swelling. Use pillows to prop your arm while in bed or sitting in a chair.
• Take pain medicine as prescribed. Do not drink or drive if you are taking narcotic pain medication.
• Call your doctor for increased pain, loss of sensation, or if your fingers or hand turn cold or blue.

Prevention

There are 2 main ways to help prevent a broken arm.

• Wear appropriate personal safety equipment as protection. Wearing car seat belts, using wrist guards for in-line skating and skateboarding, and wearing appropriate pads for contact sports are all good ways to prevent bone fractures.

• Prevent and treat osteoporosis, the disease that causes bone loss, especially in older women. These women tend to have more fractures as they age. In this group, the use of calcium supplements and estrogen replacement would help to reduce the number of fractures resulting from weakened bones. The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. This is best done early in life by building stronger bones through a good diet and exercise. Women of all ages should discuss techniques for prevention and treatment of ongoing osteoporosis with their doctor.

Outlook

The majority of fractures heal and normal arm movement is restored.

Many of these factors based on the individual injury and medical history may determine the final outcome of a broken bone:

• Earlier treatment usually improves results.
• Fractures in younger children and adolescents tend to heal better.
• Fractures that have multiple breaks, involve a joint, have open wounds, or become infected could have healing complications.
• Older adults have an increased chance of losing some ability or movement in the broken arm.
• Chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and diabetes may slow the healing process.

Multimedia

Media file 1: Fractured forearm of both bones (radius and ulna). Photos courtesy of Courtney Bethel, MD, and Anthony Dean, MD.

Media file 2: Forearm fracture with multiple fragments

Media file 3: Upper arm fracture after casting

Media file 4: Forearm fracture (ulna) after splint application

Media file 5: Broken shoulder (humerus)

Media file 6: Fracture of the forearm in a child

Synonyms and Keywords

fractured arm, greenstick fracture, dislocation fracture, pathologic fracture, closed fracture, occult fracture, comminuted fracture, compound fracture, buckle fracture, Colles fracture, broken arm

Broken Arm: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment

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.

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.

Broken Arm Causes

Almost all injuries to the arm that result in a broken bone are caused in 2 ways: falls and direct trauma.

• The typical fall that produces a fracture occurs when you fall on your outstretched hand. The location of the fracture can be from the wrist up to the shoulder depending on the direction of the fall, the age of the person, and other factors that modify the stresses applied to the bone.

• Direct trauma can be from a direct blow from an object such as a bat, the trauma during a car accident, or any accident that causes the direct application of force to a part of the arm.

Broken Arm Symptoms

Most broken arms have these symptoms:

• A large amount of pain and increased pain when moving the arm
• Swelling
• Maybe an obvious deformity compared to the other arm
• Possible open wound either from the bone puncturing the skin or from the skin being cut during the injury
• Decreased sensation or inability to move the limb, which may indicate nerve damage

When to Seek Medical Care

Call your doctor after an accident if these signs are present:

• Significant pain that is not relieved by ice and home pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin)
• A large amount of swelling or mild deformity of the arm compared to the opposite arm
• Significant pain with use or limited use of the affected arm
• Pain in one specific part of the arm when it is pressed

Your doctor may advise you to go directly to a hospital’s emergency department. Under the following conditions, go directly to the hospital for emergency care:

• Visible bone sticking out through the skin
• Heavy bleeding from an open wound
• Complete lack of movement or sensation of part of the arm
• Obvious deformity that looks drastically different from the usual appearance
• Loss of consciousness
• Many other injuries

Exams and Tests

The initial evaluation by any physician, in the office or in the emergency department, begins with a thorough history and physical exam. By finding out the details of the accident, the doctor may be able to determine what damage was done based on the mechanism of the trauma.

After taking a history, the physician will do a complete physical exam with special focus on the painful areas. The doctor is looking for signs of a fracture (such as swelling or deformity) and checking for possible nerve or blood vessel damage.

X-rays are typically the test used to assess for broken bones. At least 2 views of the arm are taken. Initially, most broken bones will have an apparent fracture or other abnormality on the x-ray. Some fractures are not always visible on the first set of x-rays. In those instances, a CT scan or MRI may be done immediately for further evaluation, or follow-up x-rays may be obtained at a later date.

Broken Arm Treatment Self-Care at Home

• The most important aspect of first aid is to stabilize the arm. Do this by using a towel as a sling. Place it under the arm and then around the neck. An alternate approach to keep the arm from moving is to position a rolled and taped newspaper along the swollen area and to tape it in place.
• Apply ice to the injured area. This can help to decrease pain and swelling. Place ice in a bag and leave it on the arm for 20-30 minutes at a time. It may be helpful to place a towel around the ice bag or in between the bag and the skin to protect the skin from getting too cold. Never put ice directly on the skin.

Medical Treatment

The most important aspect of treating fractures is to determine which ones can be treated with outpatient care and which require admission to the hospital.

In most instances, the broken arm will be able to be treated in the emergency department.

• Most fractures will need to have a splint or partial cast applied to stabilize the broken bones. Some breaks especially in the upper arm and shoulder may only need to be immobilized in a sling.
• In addition to splinting the broken arm, the physician will prescribe medicines for pain control and ice to decrease swelling.
• Typically, wounds that warrant admission to the hospital are these:
  • Bones that have gone through the skin or have lacerations over the broken area
  • Fractures that are associated with nerve damage
  • Fractures that are associated with blood vessel damage
  • Complicated fractures that have multiple breaks, involve the joints, or are unable to be stabilized in the emergency department or doctor’s office

Next Steps Follow-up

Most broken arms will not require admission to the hospital. For all other fractures, the treating doctor will suggest you follow up with an orthopedic doctor (bone specialist). At that time, the orthopedist will determine what further care (continued splinting, casting, or surgery) is necessary based on the type of fracture.

Additional follow-up instructions for fractures include the following:

• Wear any support device (splint, sling, or brace, for example) until the doctor sees you for follow-up.
• Keep your splint or cast clean and dry.
• Apply ice to the injured area for 20-30 minutes 4-5 times a day.
• Keep your arm elevated above the heart as much as possible to decrease swelling. Use pillows to prop your arm while in bed or sitting in a chair.
• Take pain medicine as prescribed. Do not drink or drive if you are taking narcotic pain medication.
• Call your doctor for increased pain, loss of sensation, or if your fingers or hand turn cold or blue.

Prevention

There are 2 main ways to help prevent a broken arm.

• Wear appropriate personal safety equipment as protection. Wearing car seat belts, using wrist guards for in-line skating and skateboarding, and wearing appropriate pads for contact sports are all good ways to prevent bone fractures.

• Prevent and treat osteoporosis, the disease that causes bone loss, especially in older women. These women tend to have more fractures as they age. In this group, the use of calcium supplements and estrogen replacement would help to reduce the number of fractures resulting from weakened bones. The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. This is best done early in life by building stronger bones through a good diet and exercise. Women of all ages should discuss techniques for prevention and treatment of ongoing osteoporosis with their doctor.

Outlook

The majority of fractures heal and normal arm movement is restored.

Many of these factors based on the individual injury and medical history may determine the final outcome of a broken bone:

• Earlier treatment usually improves results.
• Fractures in younger children and adolescents tend to heal better.
• Fractures that have multiple breaks, involve a joint, have open wounds, or become infected could have healing complications.
• Older adults have an increased chance of losing some ability or movement in the broken arm.
• Chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and diabetes may slow the healing process.

Multimedia

Media file 1: Fractured forearm of both bones (radius and ulna). Photos courtesy of Courtney Bethel, MD, and Anthony Dean, MD.

Media file 2: Forearm fracture with multiple fragments

Media file 3: Upper arm fracture after casting

Media file 4: Forearm fracture (ulna) after splint application

Media file 5: Broken shoulder (humerus)

Media file 6: Fracture of the forearm in a child

Synonyms and Keywords

fractured arm, greenstick fracture, dislocation fracture, pathologic fracture, closed fracture, occult fracture, comminuted fracture, compound fracture, buckle fracture, Colles fracture, broken arm

Broken arm or wrist – NHS

Get medical advice as soon as possible if you think you have broken your arm or wrist. Any possible breaks need to be treated as soon as possible. It’s not always clear if your arm or wrist is broken or just sprained so it’s important to get your injury looked at by a healthcare professional.

Urgent advice: Get advice from 111 now if:

You have had an injury to your arm or wrist and:

• the injury is very painful
• there is a large amount of swelling or bruising
• you cannot use the affected arm or wrist due to the pain

111 will tell you what to do. They can tell you the right place to get help if you need to see someone.

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

Other ways to get help

Go to an urgent treatment centre

Urgent treatment centres are places you can go if you need to see someone now.

They’re also called walk-in centres or minor injuries units.

You may be seen quicker than you would at A&E.

Find an urgent treatment centre

Immediate action required: Go to A&E or call 999 if:

• the affected arm or wrist is numb, is tingling or has pins and needles
• you have a bad cut that is bleeding heavily
• a bone is sticking out of your skin
• your arm or wrist has changed shape or is at an odd angle

Things to do while you’re waiting to see a doctor

Do

• use a towel as a sling to support the affected arm – The St John Ambulance website has more information about how to make an arm sling

• gently hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) to the injured area for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours

• stop any bleeding by applying pressure to the wound with a clean pad or dressing if possible

• remove any jewellery such as rings or watches – your fingers, wrist or hand could swell up

• take paracetamol for the pain

Treatment for a broken arm or wrist

When you get to hospital the affected arm will be placed in a splint to support it and stop any broken bones from moving out of position.

You will also be given painkilling medicines for the pain.

An X-ray is then used to see if there is a break and how bad that break is.

A plaster cast can be used to keep your arm in place until it heals – sometimes this may be done a few days later, to allow any swelling to go down first. You may be given a sling to support your arm.

A doctor may try to fit the broken bones back into place with their hands before applying a splint or cast – you will be given medicine before this happens so you will not feel any pain. If you had a very bad break surgery may be carried out to fix broken bones back into place.

Before leaving hospital, you’ll be given painkillers to take home and advice on how to look after your cast.

Find out how to take care of your plaster cast

You’ll be asked to attend follow-up appointments to check how your arm or wrist is healing.

How long does it take to recover from a broken arm or wrist?

In most cases it takes around 6 to 8 weeks to recover from a broken arm or wrist. It can take longer if your arm or wrist was severely damaged.

You will need to wear your plaster cast until the broken bone heals. The skin under the cast may be itchy for a few days but this should pass.

The hospital will give you an advice sheet on exercises you should do every day to help speed up your recovery.

Your arm or wrist may be stiff and weak after the cast is removed. A physiotherapist can help with these problems, although sometimes they can last several months or more.

Things you can do to help during recovery

Do

• try to keep your hand raised above your elbow whenever possible; use a pillow at night to do this

• follow any exercise advice you have been given

• use the painkillers you have been given to ease pain

Don’t

• do not get your cast wet – waterproof cast covers are available from pharmacies

• do not use anything to scratch under the cast as this could lead to an infection

• do not drive or try to lift heavy items until you have been told it is safe to do so

Read more about how to look after your plaster cast

Urgent advice: Get advice from 111 now if:

• the pain in your arm or wrist gets worse
• your temperature is very high or you feel hot and shivery
• your cast breaks, or the cast feels too tight or too loose
• your fingers, wrist and arm start to feel numb
• your fingers, wrist and arm look swollen or turn blue or white
• there’s a bad smell or discharge of liquid from under your cast

111 will tell you what to do. They can tell you the right place to get help if you need to see someone.

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

Other ways to get help

Go to an urgent treatment centre

Urgent treatment centres are places you can go if you need to see someone now.

They’re also called walk-in centres or minor injuries units.

You may be seen quicker than you would at A&E.

Find an urgent treatment centre

Page last reviewed: 26 May 2020
Next review due: 26 May 2023

Arm Injury

Is this your child’s symptom?

• Injuries to the arm (shoulder to hand)
• Injuries to a bone, muscle, joint or ligament
• Excluded: muscle pain caused by too much exercise or work (overuse). Covered in Arm Pain.
• Excluded: finger injury only. See that care guide.

Types of Arm Injuries

• Fractures. Fractures are broken bones. A broken collarbone is the most common broken bone in children. It’s easy to notice because the collar bone is tender to touch. Also, the child cannot raise the arm upward.
• Dislocations. This happens when a bone is pulled out of a joint. A dislocated elbow is the most common type of this injury in kids. It’s caused by an adult quickly pulling or lifting a child by the arm. Mainly seen in 1 to 4 year olds. It’s also easy to spot. The child will hold his arm as if it were in a sling. He will keep the elbow bent and the palm of the hand down.
• Sprains. Sprains are stretches and tears of ligaments.
• Strains. Strains are stretches and tears of muscles (such as a pulled muscle).
• Muscle Overuse. Muscle pain can occur without an injury. There is no fall or direct blow. Muscle overuse is from hard work or sports (such as a sore shoulder).
• Muscle bruise from a direct blow
• Bone bruise from a direct blow
• Skin Injury. Examples are a cut, scratch, scrape or bruise. All are common with arm injuries.

Pain Scale

• Mild: your child feels pain and tells you about it. But, the pain does not keep your child from any normal activities. School, play and sleep are not changed.
• Moderate: the pain keeps your child from doing some normal activities. It may wake him or her up from sleep.
• Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps your child from doing all normal activities.

When to Call for Arm Injury

Call 911 Now

• Serious injury with many broken bones
• Major bleeding that can’t be stopped
• Bone is sticking through the skin
• You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Can’t move the shoulder, elbow or wrist normally
• Collarbone is painful and can’t raise arm over head
• Can’t open and close the hand normally
• Skin is split open or gaping and may need stitches
• Cut over knuckle of hand
• Age less than 1 year old
• Severe pain and not better 2 hours after taking pain medicine
• You think your child has a serious injury
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Very large bruise or swelling
• Pain not better after 3 days
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• Injury limits sports or school work
• Dirty cut and no tetanus shot in more than 5 years
• Clean cut and no tetanus shot in more than 10 years
• Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Bruised muscle or bone from direct blow
• Pain in muscle from minor pulled muscle
• Pain around joint from minor stretched ligament
• Minor cut or scrape

Seattle Children’s Urgent Care Locations

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Care Advice for Minor Arm Injuries

1. What You Should Know About Minor Arm Injuries:
   • During sports, muscles and bones get bruised.
   • Muscles get stretched.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Pain Medicine:
   • To help with the pain, give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
   • Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
   • Use as needed.
3. Small Cut or Scrape Treatment:
   • Use direct pressure to stop any bleeding. Do this for 10 minutes or until bleeding stops.
   • Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. Try to rinse the cut under running water.
   • Gently scrub out any dirt with a washcloth.
   • Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Then, cover it with a bandage. Change daily.
4. Cold Pack for Pain:
   • For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
   • Put it on the sore muscles for 20 minutes.
   • Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
   • Reason: Helps the pain and helps stop any bleeding.
   • Caution: Avoid frostbite.
5. Use Heat After 48 Hours:
   • If pain lasts over 2 days, put heat on the sore muscle.
   • Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
   • Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
   • Reason: Increase blood flow and improve healing.
   • Caution: Avoid burns.
6. Rest the Arm:
   • Rest the injured arm as much as possible for 48 hours.
7. What to Expect:
   • Pain and swelling most often peak on day 2 or 3.
   • Swelling should be gone by 7 days.
   • Pain may take 2 weeks to fully go away.
8. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Pain becomes severe
   • Pain is not better after 3 days
   • Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
   • You think your child needs to be seen
   • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the ‘Call Your Doctor’ symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Last Reviewed: 04/30/2021

Last Revised: 03/11/2021

Copyright 2000-2021. Schmitt Pediatric Guidelines LLC.

How A Broken Arm Affects Movement And Muscles

A broken arm can sideline you for months, especially if the break affects your dominant hand. The movement and muscle groups in your arm take a backseat when you suffer an injury like a fracture. This is because the muscles and bones in our body are codependent and rely on each other to fully function. You will need to regain your arm strength through physiotherapy (depending on the severity of your injury) in order for movement to be restored.

What muscles are found in the arm?

From the top of our arms to our fingertips, we have 30 bones. Each bone is supported by a distinct muscle group. The most important groups are the biceps, triceps and forearms because these are the muscles we use the most. Our arm bones are supported by ligaments and joint capsules that allow the muscles to have a full range of motion. The larger muscles help to flex and extend the arms, while the smaller muscles control our fine motor skills. If you break your arm, the muscles suffer as well.

What are the main arm functions our muscles perform?

The muscles in arms are what control the positioning and movement of our elbow joint, wrist and hands. Without these muscles we would not be able to perform everyday activities like writing, typing, pointing and grabbing. Moreover, our capacity to lift things comes from our arm muscles. When we break an arm, the muscles that allow for movement shut down.

What happens when you break your arm?

If you fracture your humerus, the upper arm bone that extends from shoulder to elbow, it means there was a direct blow to the area. Usually, humerus fractures occur after a high-impact fall or car accident. If you fracture your radius and ulna, the forearm bones that extend from elbow to wrist, that means there was a direct impact to that area from falling on an outstretched arm or pressure from a motor vehicle collision.

Humerus fractures generally do not involve surgery and the arm is left to heal in a cast, splint or functional brace. If the fracture to the humerus is severe, it will require a surgical procedure that repairs the bone with plates, screws or a metal rod. Once the healing process begins, you will meet with a physiotherapist who will help restore the function of your arm and strengthen the muscles. Range of motion will also be repaired through physiotherapy, and any muscle groups that were inactive while you had your cast on will be retrained.

Forearm fractures are treated with surgery if they are severe. If not, they are left to heal in a cast, brace or splint. Because forearm motion is so particular, you will need physical therapy to help get your arm back in working order. As with upper arm fractures, a physiotherapist will help restore the function of your arm along with strengthening and retraining the surrounding muscle groups.

What are the symptoms of a broken arm and how are the muscles affected?

When you fracture your arm, you will feel pain. Eventually the pain will subside and transition into swelling, tenderness and bruising. You will have limited motion in your arm and may have numbness in your hand or wrist. Your muscles will become immobilized because the symptoms of a broken arm will not allow you to use them without pain. When muscles immobilize, they wither and weaken. If you do not undergo physical therapy as part of your broken limb treatment, you could lose proper function in your arm and have trouble moving it at all in the future.

How long does the therapy process take after a broken arm?

Your body’s natural healing process works to join the two broken bone portions back together using cartilage and fibrous cells. Arm fractures take about 4-6 weeks to heal, and the therapy can take the same amount of time if the injury is severe. In some cases, an individual’s fracture is so bad that the surrounding muscles require complete retraining to get them back into working order. Furthermore, grip strength and performing certain functions like lifting your arm without pain will be addressed. Broken bones do not leave scars, but they can leave you with damaged muscles if you avoid strength training with a physiotherapist. In addition to training at a physiotherapy clinic, your physiotherapist will give you exercises you can do at home to further strengthen the arm muscles. It’s important that you adhere to the guidelines set forth by your therapist because each exercise is designed to target a different muscle group.

At Focus Physiotherapy we offer a range of treatment options for broken arms. Our team of registered physiotherapists and healthcare professionals will come up with a treatment plan that suits your recovery needs to ensure your arm functions are fully restored. Please contact us for more information.

Distal Radius Fracture | Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

This is a very simple question. Unfortunately it does not have a simple answer. The kinds of distal radius fractures are so varied and the treatment options are so broad that it is hard to describe what to expect. Most fractures hurt moderately for a few days to a couple of weeks. Many patients find that using ice, elevation (holding their arm up above their heart), and simple, non-prescription medications for pain relief are all that are needed. One combination is ibuprofen (sold as a generic or under the brand names Motrin® or Advil®) plus acetaminophen (sold under the brand name Tylenol®, and also as a generic, often marked on the box “non-aspirin pain reliever”). The combination of both ibuprofen plus acetaminophen is much more effective than either one alone (the medical term for this is synergistic). If pain is severe, patients may need to take a prescription strength medication, often a narcotic, for a few days. Discuss these options with your doctor.

Casts and splints must be kept dry, so use a plastic bag over your arm while you are showering. If you do get it wet, it will not dry very easily (you can try to use a hair dryer on the cool setting). There are no real “waterproof” casts, but there are some options available that have their pluses and minuses. Discuss this with your doctor.

Most surgical incisions must be kept clean and dry for five days or until the sutures (stitches) are removed, whichever occurs later.

Everyone wants to know, “Can I return to all my former activities, and when?” This is a great question that also seems rather simple and straightforward, but the answer is complex. Most patients do return to all their former activities, but what will happen in your case depends on the nature of your injury, the kind of treatment you and your surgeon decide upon, and how your body responds to the treatment. You will need to discuss your case with your doctor for the specifics of your case, but some generalizations can be made.

Most patients have their cast taken off at about six weeks.

Most patients will start physical therapy, if their doctor feels it is needed, within a few days to weeks after surgery, or right after the last cast is taken off.

Most patients will be able to resume light activities such as swimming or working out the lower body in the gym within a month or two after the cast is taken off, or after surgery.

Most patients can resume vigorous physical activities, such as skiing or football, between three and six months after the injury.

Almost all patients will have some stiffness in the wrist, which will generally diminish in the month or two after the cast is taken off or after surgery, and will continue to improve for at least two years.

You should expect your recovery to take at least a year. You will still feel some pain with vigorous activities for about that long. Some residual stiffness or ache is to be expected for two years or possibly permanently, especially for high energy injuries (such as motorcycle crashes, etc.), in patients over 50, or in patients who have some osteoarthritis. However, the good news is that the stiffness is usually minor and may not affect the overall function of the arm.

Remember, these are general guidelines and may not apply to you and your fracture. Ask your doctor for specifics in your case. Your doctor knows that returning to activities is important to you.

Finally, osteoporosis is a factor in as many as 250,000 wrist fractures. It has been suggested that people who suffer a wrist fracture may need to be screened for osteoporosis, especially if they have other risk factors. Ask your doctor if you need to be screened or treated for osteoporosis.

Information provided by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Hand fracture: signs, symptoms, treatment

Society

What is the danger of injury and what treatment is necessary? We are learning to help with injuries of the upper limb.

Andrey Karelin

October 15, 2020 15:17

Photo: pixabay.com

Main

• Why does the fracture of the upper limb occur?

• How to distinguish arm fractures from bruises or dislocations?

• What types of fractures are there?

• And what other gradations of fractures are there?

• There are fractures

• What help should follow immediately after a limb fracture?

• Help with an open fracture

• Treatment of limb fractures

Main: Main

Why does an upper limb fracture occur?

• Why does the fracture of the upper limb occur?

• How to distinguish arm fractures from bruises or dislocations?

• What types of fractures are there?

• And what other gradations of fractures are there?

• There are fractures

• What help should follow immediately after a limb fracture?

• Help with an open fracture

• Processes for treating limb fractures

Many smiled when the main character of the film “The Diamond Hand”, worried about her husband, Semyon Semyonovich Gorbunkov, lamented: “He doesn’t have there closed, but open fracture! “There is absolutely nothing funny about a person being injured.

In case of breaks, plans for rest are ruined and work accomplishments are inhibited. Wearing plaster cast makes it difficult or impossible to play sports and drive a car. Life is instantly divided into “before and after the fracture.” The task of the patient, doctors and his relatives to exclude complications, which are fraught with any damage to bone tissue – fracture.

Why does an upper limb fracture occur?

· We break our arms as a result of an accidental fall from a height (to break an arm, the height of our own growth is enough)

· An external physical impact may affect the hand (as a result of forceful reception, a blow by hooligans or an accident).

· No one gets younger: in an elderly patient, the bone structure is already weakened, so even a not too significant effect is enough for a fracture to occur with or without displacement, which requires a visit to the doctor, reduction, surgery, and wearing a plaster cast.

How to distinguish arm fractures from bruises or dislocations?

Violation of the integrity of the bone (fracture) can be recognized by knowing even the most obvious symptoms of this injury:

Examine the arm: in case of a fracture, its unnatural position is noticeable (this occurs due to displacement / curvature of the damaged bones)

Move the injured arm: if you feel severe pain, you need to urgently call an ambulance or go to the nearest trauma center for X-ray on your own

· try to clench your hand into a fist: with fractures of the radius, you are more likely to simply not be able to do this

· fractures of other parts of the arm are accompanied the inability to perform certain usual movements (we try to bend the arm at the elbow, lift it up, stretch the hand forward – everything should work)

damage to the integrity of the bone, associated with the formation of debris, can lead to damage to the nerve endings, and as a result, the injured part of the hand will lose feelings efficiency.

· Feel gently with the injured hand: if it seems to you that it is cold, be aware that as a result of the displacement of the bones, blood flow may be impaired. There is a need for immediate reposition of the broken bone (s) to avoid complications. Violation of blood circulation in the injured limb may be accompanied by the fact that some part of the hand becomes hot. Local temperature changes (like an increase in body temperature) are not a 100% sign of serious bone damage (fracture).Such symptoms are typical for bruises, dislocations, sprains, which may also require the imposition of a plaster cast.

· swelling, change in the usual color of the hand, the manifestation of a hematoma are also symptoms of a fracture

· an open fracture is most clearly manifested, in which the injury is accompanied by damage to the skin, bleeding and exposure of bone fragments.

What types of fractures are there?

We have mentioned:

· open (with skin damage and bleeding).It requires surgical intervention and complicates the processes of tissue fusion.

· and closed (without exposure of debris) fracture.

And what gradations of fractures are there still?

There is a differentiation of fractures according to the area of ​​the limb where the bone fracture occurred:

Medium (diaphyseal type fracture)

Terminal (if the bone is broken closer to the end, this is a metaphyseal fracture)

Joint or ligament injuries can be diagnosed as intra-articular fracture

Fractures are

isolated (single)

multiple (double, etc.)- when the bone is broken in two or more places)

And also

· without displacement of the bone (the simplest variant of injury)

· with displacement (requiring immediate reduction of the limb bones – reduction).

Have you ever had to break a chicken bone in your

hand at dinner?

If yes, you could see that the fracture occurs in different ways, depending on the vector of mechanical stress, the type of force applied.In case of fractures in humans, occurring after a fall or mechanical impact, the destruction of bone tissue can be:

· transverse

· longitudinal

· shrapnel.

And, of course, one of the main differentiations of the fracture is the part of the limb where the bone broke

fingers

hand

radius

elbow joint

humerus

clavicle

scapula.

What help should follow immediately after a limb fracture?

The greatest danger after damage to bone tissue (fracture) is the displacement of bones, so it must be excluded by immobilizing the limb.

It is worth looking for a solid oblong object (a fragment of a board or something like that), wrap it with a bandage (you need to have it in your home first-aid kit), ensuring that your hand is motionless before the arrival of a team of doctors or in the process of self-transportation to the clinic.By eliminating displacement, you will facilitate and accelerate the processes of bone healing.

If you see a curvature (unnatural shape) of the arm, never try to reposition at home. Treatment of injury, reduction of fracture, compilation of debris in the operating room is the prerogative of the doctor. By intervening, you will provoke a painful shock, which can lead to loss of consciousness or death of a person with a weak heart. In case of a fracture, it is allowed to take analgesics if the person is not prone to allergic reactions to medications.

Help with an open fracture

This point deserves special attention, because with an open fracture, bleeding occurs. It needs to be stopped urgently. You need to put on a tourniquet (if not, a waist belt, tie, rope will do). Be sure to apply a tourniquet above (in no case below!) The wound, on which a sterile bandage should be applied and try to prevent dirt from entering.

Processes for treating limb fractures

It is extremely important to inform your doctor if you feel uncomfortable after applying an excessively tight plaster cast.The compressive effect of gypsum disrupts blood flow in the limb. This can very quickly lead to its necrosis (necrosis). Sometimes children cannot or are afraid to complain about the tightness of the cast. Check the temperature of the hand and the color – in no case should it be cyanotic, cold.

Responsibly follow the doctor’s prescriptions in part

· the need for surgical intervention for the compilation of debris or reduction

· the duration of wearing the plaster, ensuring the correct fusion of the bone or bones

· taking medications that relieve pain, accelerate the healing process.

The duration of the plaster cast depends on a number of factors – the severity of the fracture, the age of the patient, the rate of healing / healing, intermediate and final X-ray / CT readings.

For early rehabilitation and complete restoration of functions,

· physiotherapy course

· performance of special exercises for a hand that loses functionality when wearing a plaster cast

· limb massage

· physiotherapy exercises or swimming.

We sincerely wish you a speedy recovery!

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7 min

What you need to know about fractures and their consequences ?. News. Channel One

Winter is not only the time of flu, but also of fractures. Ice, specific sports. All this forces traumatologists to work in an enhanced mode.

Report by Maria Torlopova.

The famous Beethoven’s “To Eliza” music lover Ivan Shelumentsev plays with one left.Because the right one is broken. Ivan is a big fan of snowboarding, when he went for a drive for the last time, he slipped, fell, woke up – a plaster cast.

Ivan Shelumentsev, snowboarder: “The shoulder cracked, one might say, in half. The hand began to dangle. I realized that when I sat down on the slope and realized that my right hand was twitching!”

Ivan has a broken arm in two places. So he can only dream of snowy peaks.

It’s one thing when you break your arm or leg while snowboarding, skiing or skating.But sometimes it is not safe under the windows of your home. There are ice fields in the courtyards. In order not to slip, it is better to bypass the ice in the snow.

A resident of Tyumen Natalya Petrova gives an interview reluctantly – the pain in her leg is such that she can hardly bear it. Even in the morning she walked to work on her own two feet. And now one leg in a cast. Traumatologists assure: sudden changes in temperature – and they have a queue of patients. All are victims of ice.

Ivan Sabatov, traumatologist: “Holidays, weekends, we are working in an intensive mode.There are more patients, much more. “

Doctors say: almost always their patients are to blame. Someone walks too fast on slippery roads, someone abuses alcohol. And sometimes people fall from fatigue, in the literal sense, according to doctors, most of all fractures in the evening

Pensioner Anna Uskova from Kirov blames osteoporosis for her troubles.Almost all elderly people have this disease, because of it the bones are so fragile that they break instantly even with minor bruises.

Anna Sergeyevna will have two months to spend in the hospital and four more – on crutches.True, even after that, doctors do not guarantee that the bone will recover completely.

Vladimir Kovrizhnykh, traumatologist: “If there is osteoporosis, then the means of fixation cannot hold the bones as well as in young patients. Therefore, problems arise here, and treatment of patients is more expensive, since it requires a new generation of fixators!”

To strengthen bones, doctors advise to eat as many calcium-containing foods as possible. A slice of cheese, a glass of milk, or a bowl of cottage cheese every day are powerful bone support.Such a diet, according to doctors, can greatly reduce the risk of fractures in osteoporosis.

14-year-old Misha Pivovarov milk and cottage cheese help to recover from a severe injury. 4 months ago he was hit by a car right near his house.

Elena Pivovarova, mother of Misha Pivovarov: “It was a very difficult case. He was on the verge of death. There was an infection, a leg injury, a head injury and infection with a purulent stick.”

The boy wears the Elizarov apparatus, but can already walk. The leg still hurts, but the doctors have no doubt that soon he will run again as before.Misha himself admits: he is waiting – he can’t wait to play with friends in the yard again. But now, he says, he will take care of himself.

Presenter: Much to our chagrin, no one is immune from injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Therefore, the advice of an experienced orthopedist, candidate of medical sciences Oleg Yablansky should be of interest to everyone. What determines the strength of our bones, their resistance to fractures, cracks? Can we somehow influence this process?

Guest: The strength of our bones depends primarily on the calcium content in our bones.The level of stress, a sedentary lifestyle, physical inactivity, all this imperceptibly leads to a decrease in the accumulation of calcium in our bones. Therefore, it is necessary, turning to a specialist, to select medications that will strengthen our bones in the winter-spring period.

Host: If there was a trouble, you fell, broke something for yourself, how should you behave?

Guest: You should definitely contact a traumatologist. But, before you budge, you need to take care of pain relief and immobilization of the area that we injured.If we have tucked the ankle joint, we can use some available means to try to fix the joint. As an improvised material, say, on a ski slope. In order to fix a leg that is damaged, you can use a ski, ski poles. Can be used with hockey sticks. Snow, ice, now that’s enough, in a cellophane bag can be applied to the pain zone. This will ease the suffering, and you will collect your thoughts, decide what you need to do at the moment.

Host: Well, the hospital will already provide the necessary assistance.How to speed up your recovery, bone fusion?

Guest: Well, first of all, you need to follow the doctor’s recommendations. Unfortunately, we cannot speed up the process, biological processes in the body. We can create comfortable conditions for these processes to take place within the time frame in which they take place. If we violate some recommendations, we will not comply with something, we can only slow down this process.

Presenter: But is it growing in the same way as it was before? Or is it still impossible to use a broken arm as before the fracture?

Guest: Depends on the location of the fracture, on the degree of displacement.If it is a hip fracture in an adult, sixty years old, then it can lead to disability and even death. That is, there are a lot of nuances here, so you need to be watched by a specialist right after the injury.

Host: With fractures, everything is clear. And how to understand that there is a crack, and this is not just a bruise and swelling of some type of bruise, and how should they be treated?

Guest: To understand that this is a crack or a complete fracture, or just a soft tissue injury, you can make an X-ray or computed tomography of this segment.Only by such research can we determine whether there are any structural disorders of the bone or not.

Host: But if there is a crack, the person did not go to the doctor. There is no displacement, no kink, it has grown together itself. Is it dangerous or not?

Guest: It’s not dangerous, but it may not grow together for a long time. Bone destruction, bone resorption may begin. And if, for example, at first it was a crack, an incomplete fracture, then over time it may form a gap, a bone defect that will require surgical treatment.

Slippery topic: how to distinguish a fracture from a bruise, dislocation, and sprain yourself? | Volzhsky News

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Angle of fall
-A walk on a slippery sidewalk can end in a hospital bed, says Sergey Viktorovich. – Therefore, try to protect yourself as much as possible from falling, for which choose the right clothes and shoes. In stores you can buy special pads for soles, there are also “folk remedies”: adhesive plaster or stockings for boots. While climbing the icy stairs, hold onto the railing.Do not carry the bag at the bend of the elbow, generally give up on it for the winter – it is better to hang the backpack behind your back to free your hands.
Take small steps on icy road sections without hurrying or being distracted by your mobile phone calls. If you do lose your balance, try to fall correctly. You should not throw your hands forward or vice versa, put them behind you – this increases the risk of fractures of the forearms and wrists.
Falling on your back, press your chin to your chest, and stretch your arms forward, while straining your muscles as much as possible.If the body is relaxed, the risk of breaking an arm or leg increases.
It is best to land on your side with your head in your shoulders and your elbows against your body. But, of course, in order to fall correctly, you need a certain skill and a quick reaction.
-What to do if it was not possible to protect yourself from falling?
-First aid for injuries sustained in a fall is the same: pain relief, cold and rest. After returning home, hold an ice pack on the bruised area. First, leave the cold compress for 20-30 minutes, then apply for 10 minutes every two hours.But in no case should you warm or rub the site of injury on the first day. And if the pain persists, it is better to consult a traumatologist: treatment of sprains and fractures with “folk remedies” is a bad idea.
-How to distinguish a simple contusion from dislocation and fracture?
-A symptom of a bruise is pain that disappears after a while. Edema forms at the site of the injury, and a bruise forms a few hours or even days later. Apply cold – but not warming – to the damaged area! – compress. If the pain and swelling persist, and the hematoma grows, you need to consult a doctor, since the consequences of a severe injury can be serious.
Dislocation is characterized by sharp pain at the moment of impact, deformation of the joint, inability to move an arm or leg. A cold compress is also applied to the affected joint to relieve pain. The limb is fixed: the hand is bandaged to the chest, the leg is covered with soft pillows. The gross mistake is to correct the dislocation yourself or to ask someone to do it. Contact your doctors immediately.

“You don’t go there, you go here”
-And if this is not a dislocation, but a sprain?
– Sprains are most common among lovers of heels – as they say, “twisted my leg on a bump.”Its sign is aching pain that can subside, and then, with an awkward movement, will torment the person again. A twisted leg can result in a fracture. To distinguish it from a sprain, press down on the protruding ankle bone from both sides. If there is no pain, chances are you have a sprain. In this case, you need rest, cold compresses immediately after injury and dry heat the next day.
—What are the signs of a fracture?
— Acute pain, aggravated by exertion, inability to move fingers, edema.But even if everything seems to be in order, after a serious fall, it is better to see a doctor. Fractures of the legs can be accompanied by thrombosis, and this leads to blockage of blood vessels and, in case of a late visit to the doctor, to very sad consequences.
-In winter, passers-by are in danger not only “from below”, but also “from above”: you can also suffer from falling icicles. What to do if a piece of ice falls on a person’s head?
-The advice is the same: do not waste time. If you have a cut wound, apply a bandage from scrap materials, contact the nearest medical facility or even a pharmacy for first aid.Signs of a concussion are as follows: impaired coordination, dizziness, nausea, double vision. A person at the time of injury may lose consciousness, even if only for a few seconds, he may be tormented by vomiting. In this case, the victim should be laid on a bench and something cold should be applied to his head, and then an ambulance should be called. Be that as it may, when going outside, be careful. Watch your step and take care of yourself.

Doctors advised a Siberian woman to treat a broken arm with ice

The Siberian woman broke her arm, but the doctors misdiagnosed her, because of which she suffered for 2 days.Now she intends to complain to the prosecutor’s office about the negligence of doctors.

A resident of Novosibirsk Ksenia Kozhaeva found herself in an unpleasant situation in the hospital. The girl broke her arm, but the paramedics considered it a simple bruise, giving her advice to apply ice. The diagnosis was made incorrectly, and for two days Ksenia suffered from pain.

In social networks, Kozhaeva said that on August 9 she went to the emergency room. A picture was taken, the traumatologist and his colleagues looked at it, and then it was concluded that the victim had a soft tissue injury.All that had to be done to make the problem go away was to apply ice. But as a result, the girl suffered from pain until August 11.

She realized that it was definitely not possible to cope with the pain that way, so she went to the polyclinic where she lived. With the help of X-rays, it became clear that the Siberian woman had a double fracture of her left hand. Ksenia was outraged by the negligence of the previous health worker.

Ksenia Kozhaeva told KP-Novosibirsk that the situation was very bad. She has all the documents of polyclinic # 25 in her hands.She said that she arrived there with a swollen blue hand, and she was sent home without an injection, simply by issuing a certificate. The Siberian woman does not intend to be silent. She is sure that such doctors should not work in a hospital. After all, there will certainly be new victims of such negligence.

Sibiryachka intends to complain to the prosecutor’s office so that the responsible medical workers would be punished for this.

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Trophic ulcers

Venous and arterial trophic ulcers of the lower extremities

Trophic ulcers are usually associated with damage to the skin in the lower leg, just above the ankle.They occur in 1 person in 1000 in Europe, more often in older people (20 in 1000), whose age is closer to 80 years.

In 80% of cases, trophic ulcers develop due to venous insufficiency, while diseases of arterial or mixed etiology account for only 20%. If not properly managed, the ulcer can progress to a chronic wound that requires longer treatment (6 months or more) and is characterized by a high recurrence rate.

What are trophic venous ulcers of the lower extremities?

Trophic ulcers of the lower extremities of venous etiology develop due to poor functioning of the valves in large veins, caused by their damage.They can be painless or painful. This disease is also characterized by a high risk of infection. Quite often, trophic ulcers are surrounded by an area of ​​inflammation (dermatitis).

Healthy and well functioning valves provide:

• no stagnation;
• one-way circulation;
• normal blood pressure.

For damaged valves:

• blood accumulates in the legs;
• high blood pressure.

This means that the blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart are not functioning efficiently. Blood accumulates in the peripheral vessels and the pressure in the veins of the lower leg increases, creating conditions for the fluid to exit from the venous vessels into the surrounding tissues. This leads to swelling, thickening, damage to the skin and ulcers as a result.

Risk factors

Those patients who have already suffered from this disease are most at risk of developing trophic ulcers.Other risk factors are:

• varicose veins;
• deep vein thrombosis in the affected leg;

90,015 phlebitis in the affected leg;

• previous fracture, trauma or surgery;
• heredity;
• symptoms of venous insufficiency: leg pain, heavy legs, pain, itching, swelling, skin destruction, pigmentation and eczema.

Prevention

There are several simple measures that can help reduce the risk of venous trophic ulcers.For example, wearing compression hosiery (stockings), losing excess weight, taking proper care of your skin, playing sports, avoiding harmful excesses (smoking, alcohol).

Compression hosiery

Compression stockings are specially designed to provide metered pressure on the lower extremities, improving blood circulation. They, as a rule, fit tightly to the lower leg and, with distance from it, become looser. This helps to stimulate blood flow from the lower extremities to the heart.For maximum effectiveness, they must be worn at all times (unless the patient is in bed). Compression stockings are selected individually. Additionally, there are various accessories for easy donning.

Excess weight loss

Losing excess weight can help prevent the formation of trophic ulcers of the lower extremities, as being overweight increases pressure in the blood vessels. Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing trophic ulcers compared to people of normal weight.A combination of a balanced diet and regular, moderate exercise can help you lose weight. It is necessary to take walks as often as possible and avoid being in a static position (sitting or standing) for a long time, and also raise your legs when there is an opportunity for this.

Addressing major issues

Venous disease, associated with varicose veins of the lower extremities, is one of the main causes of trophic ulcers. They can be treated in a variety of ways, which are mainly related to the impact on damaged veins.For example, with the help of a laser, injections that close the lumen of the vessel, or their catheterization. Sometimes, traditional surgery may be required to repair damaged blood vessels or remove them completely.

Treatment of venous ulcers of the lower extremities

Home care for trophic ulcers includes treatment with antiseptic solutions or special medications and systematic dressing. It is very important that the patient and his family are informed that the treatment will only be successful if the compression bandages are worn as directed by the doctor, as the healing efficiency of the ulcer is greatly increased while the compression is maintained.Leg elevations and other preventive measures also help speed up wound repair and reduce the risk of recurrence.

What are lower limb arterial ulcers?

Arterial ulcers of the lower extremities are associated with insufficient arterial blood flow. The direct cause of its decrease is arteriosclerosis of the vessel wall and the formation of atherosclerotic plaque, which leads to occlusion of the artery. Peripheral vascular diseases associated with arterial insufficiency can lead to tissue ischemia.If this condition progresses, the skin in the lower extremities becomes thin, loses hair, subcutaneous fatty tissue and muscles atrophy, and nails thicken. The legs become pale and cool, pain increases with exertion, and the study of vascular pulsation using palpation is difficult.

Treatment of trophic ulcers of the lower extremities of arterial etiology requires a multidisciplinary approach. It is necessary to ensure sufficient blood flow to the tissues, which is often the tube of the surgical procedure.The patient should maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to improve tissue perfusion.

Risk factors

• Ischemic heart disease
• Previous stroke or transient ischemic attack
• Diabetes mellitus
• Atherosclerosis of peripheral arteries, including Charcot’s syndrome
• Obesity and lack of exercise

Prevention

Lifestyle changes will improve peripheral blood circulation and help reduce the risk of developing trophic ulcers of the lower extremities of arterial etiology.

Quitting smoking

Smoking greatly reduces tissue perfusion and promotes the development of trophic ulcers. In order to prevent this disease, the patient is advised to quit smoking.

Balanced diet and weight loss

It is important to follow your diet in order to lower blood cholesterol levels. You should exercise as much as possible: this will help improve blood circulation in the legs. If you feel some pain in the lower extremities during exercise, this is normal.Increased pain can be a sign of narrowing of the lumen of arterial vessels as a result of their atherosclerosis. You need to see a doctor.

Feet care

• Suitable footwear must be worn.
• Feet should be warm and not injured.
• Daily examination of feet for discoloration or ulceration is recommended.
• The skin must be well hydrated to prevent damage to the skin and the subsequent development of ulcers.

What causes numbness in the fingers

Numbness in the fingers occurs for a variety of reasons. In young people, in most cases, rapidly passing numbness is a consequence of physiological reasons that can be established independently, such a pathology does not require specific treatment. However, impaired sensitivity in the fingers can also be the initial symptom of formidable diseases, which are best treated at a very early stage. Therefore, with frequent and prolonged numbness, you should not postpone a visit to the doctor.

Causes of numbness in fingers

Numbness is sometimes called paresthesia. In medicine, this term denotes a violation of the sensitivity of certain parts of the body, including fingers, manifested by numbness, burning sensation, tingling.

The main cause of numbness in the fingers is the compression of blood vessels, as a result of which blood circulation and the normal transmission of impulses along the nerve fibers are impaired. The physiological reasons for this condition are:

• Uncomfortable posture during sleep, that is, prolonged pressure on the wrist;
• Hypothermia, both local and general;
• Forced position of the fingers in a certain position, for example, when working at a computer, embroidery, knitting;
• The recovery period after bruises, fractures, dislocations;
• Alcohol poisoning.

After the causative factor ceases to affect the body, the signs of paresthesia gradually disappear, that is, the normal sensitivity of the fingers is restored.

Pathological causes of numbness that need to be eliminated with medication or surgery include:

• Tunnel syndrome is a pinched nerve passing through the carpal tunnel.This pathology is especially common among those who constantly use a computer mouse;
• Endocrine pathologies, including diabetes mellitus;
• Progressive diseases of the nervous system – osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic regions, impaired cerebral circulation;
• Raynaud’s disease;
• Anemia;
• Scleroderma;
• Heart pathology;
• Injuries to the hand, forearm, shoulder;
• Severe poisoning with drugs, heavy metal compounds;
• Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail plate.

Numbness of the fingers of one hand, extending to the entire hand and above, in combination with other neurological disorders, most often indicates a developing stroke. With this disease, help should be provided in the first 3 hours, only in this case the NA tissues are restored almost completely. Therefore, paresthesia should not be ignored.

Manifestations of paresthesia of fingers

With paresthesia, numbness, slight tightness of the fingers, and sometimes tingling sensation are felt.Sensory impairment makes it difficult to pick up small objects, to perform precise work with your fingers. According to these signs, it is difficult to make a preliminary diagnosis, however, numbness in some diseases covers only certain fingers:

• Numbness of the little finger of the left hand, as well as the appearance of similar changes in the ring and middle fingers, can be with pathologies of the heart and blood vessels. At the same time, paresthesia is more pronounced at night;
• Numbness of the fingers of one of the hands that spreads to the hand occurs with a stroke.In the acute phase of cerebrovascular accident, coordination of movements is also impaired, consciousness becomes confused, there may be paralysis of one of the sides of the face;
• Numbness of the thumb, index and middle finger on one of the hands or both at once is one of the symptoms of compression of the nerves in the spine with osteochondrosis of the neck;
• Paresthesia of the thumb and forefinger is a characteristic sign of tunnel syndrome;
• Simultaneous numbness of the fingers on the lower and upper extremities often worries patients with diabetes.

With complaints of numbness, you can initially contact your physician. After examination and clarification of other symptoms of deterioration of health, the doctor sends for examination to narrow specialists – a neurologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, surgeon.

Treatment of numbness of fingers

Numbness in the fingers, which has arisen for pathological reasons, will bother until the underlying disease is treated. Therapy for paresthesia is selected by the doctor who is engaged in the elimination of the identified causes of pathology.The complex treatment includes medications, physiotherapy, finger gymnastics, massage, warming ointments. You can and use folk remedies, their use shows excellent results if numbness in the fingers is caused by physiological reasons.

Treatment of numbness in the fingers takes from several days to several months in duration. The duration of the course primarily depends on the root cause of the pathology.

Many people put up with periodically disturbing sensory impairment of the fingertips.But this is an extremely wrong attitude to one’s own health – numbness is often the initial sign of a fairly serious illness. If these diseases are started to be treated in a timely manner, then acute, life-threatening complications can be avoided, therefore, when paresthesia that is not caused by physiological reasons appears, careful diagnosis is required.

In our clinic, experienced neurologists, therapists, endocrinologists will carry out diagnostics, establish the diagnosis as accurately as possible and prescribe complex treatment under dynamic supervision.

Among our methods in a complex we use acupuncture, manual therapy, all types of massage, physiotherapy procedures and physiotherapy exercises under the supervision of an experienced specialist doctor. Don’t postpone the problem until later. In this situation, decisions must be made quickly.

ZONE OF SPECIAL ATTENTION – SPINE

The spine is a complex structure.The vertebrae form its basis, the intervertebral cartilage, the joints of the vertebral processes and the ligamentous apparatus fasten the vertebrae together.

The spine is:

• Rigid rod that supports the torso; head and belt of the upper limbs;
• reliable support of all levers from bones and muscles;
• Robust “protective sheath” for the spinal cord;
• flexible chain that allows the torso to bend and rotate;
• elastic spring that absorbs shocks and shocks and maintains body balance.

The spine should be mobile, stable and strong enough.

He has to adapt to different living conditions: uncomfortable furniture, a car seat, working behind a counter or machine, heavy bags and bus braking during rush hour. The muscles surrounding the spine provide two opposite functions – mobility and stability. Mobility in each intervertebral joint separately is not great, but the spine as a whole is quite flexible system.The coordination of muscle work ensures harmonious movements of the spine. The main role in maintaining an upright posture is played by the back muscles, which straighten the spine and the iliopsoas muscles. The pressure in the chest and abdomen is very important for the stability of the spine. The abdominal muscles are just as important for maintaining posture and protecting the vertebrae from displacement and injury as the back muscles. Muscle traction develops the curves of the spine, stimulates its normal development. A well-developed muscle corset is able to protect the spine from traumatic stress.

Violation of muscle tone occurs with any malfunction in the spine. Weakness of the muscle corset, uneven muscle tone are inevitably associated with the strengthening or flattening of the physiological bends of the spine or its lateral curvature.

There is no clear line between “simple” posture disorders and diseases of the spine. The two most common “misfortunes” associated with the spine – posture disorders and osteochondrosis – are two sides of the same coin, links in the same chain.

Posture

Determination of posture: the usual posture of a naturally standing person, which he takes without undue muscle tension. In a broader sense, posture is both the position of the body in various static poses, and the features of muscle work when walking and when performing various movements. Posture depends on the shape of the spine.

In a newborn, the spine has the shape of a uniform arc. The formation of the first bend – cervical lordosis – begins after the birth of the baby, when the baby raises its head.The second bend – thoracic kyphosis – begins to form when the child sits down and crawls on all fours. When the child begins to stand and walk, a third bend is formed – lumbar lordosis, and, starting from three to four years, an arched shape of the bones of the foot is formed.

In preschool and primary school age, posture in children is unstable; with age, it continues to form and acquires individual characteristics. Poor physical development and inattention of parents to the formation of correct posture are most harmful to the child’s spine.

Posture disorders in themselves are not a disease, but they create conditions for diseases not only of the spine, but also of internal organs.Poor posture is either a manifestation of an illness or a condition of pre-illness. The main danger of postural disorders is that nothing hurts until degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs begin (osteochondrosis).

Poor posture reduces the body’s margin of safety: the heart beats in a cramped chest, a sunken chest and forward-turned shoulders prevent the lungs from expanding, and a bulging abdomen disrupts the normal position of the abdominal organs.A decrease in the physiological curves of the spine (flat back) in combination with flat feet, leads to permanent microtrauma of the brain and increased fatigue, headaches, memory and attention disorders.

Most often, poor posture is combined with poor muscle development and a reduced general tone of the body, with impaired blood supply to the brain due to improper position of the head, and poor eyesight.

Typically “childhood” diseases of the spine – juvenile kyphosis and scoliosis – are considered systemic (that is, common) diseases that are often accompanied by metabolic disorders.

Good posture

With correct posture, all parts of the body are located symmetrically relative to the spine, there are no turns of the pelvis and vertebrae in the horizontal plane and no bends of the spine or oblique position of the pelvis in the frontal, spinous processes of the vertebrae are located along the midline of the back. The projection of the center of gravity of the body with good posture is within the support area of ​​the feet, approximately on the line connecting the front edges of the ankles.

Correct posture in a preschooler, a schoolboy, and also in a boy and a girl during puberty is different.

Normal posture of a preschooler

The ribcage is symmetrical, the shoulders do not protrude to the front, the shoulder blades protrude slightly backward, the abdomen protrudes forward, the legs are straightened, lumbar lordosis is outlined. The spinous processes of the vertebrae are located along the midline of the back.

Normal student posture

The shoulders are horizontal, the shoulder blades are pressed against the back (not protruding).The physiological curves of the spine are moderately expressed. The protrusion of the abdomen is reduced, but the anterior surface of the abdominal wall is located anterior to the chest. The right and left halves of the torso are symmetrical when viewed from the front and from the back. The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left halves. In this plane, flexion (forward bend) and extension (backward bend) occur.

Normal posture of boys and girls

The spinous processes are located in the midline, the legs are straightened, the shoulder girdle is lowered and at the same level.The shoulder blades are pressed to the back. The chest is symmetrical, the mammary glands in girls and the nipples in boys are symmetrical and at the same level. The waist triangles (gaps between the arms and torso) are clearly visible and symmetrical. The abdomen is flat, retracted in relation to the chest. The physiological curves of the spine are well expressed, lumbar lordosis is emphasized in girls, and thoracic kyphosis in boys.

In healthy, harmoniously developed people, youthful posture is maintained until old age.

Correct posture and typical options for its violations:

The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left halves. In this plane, flexion (forward bend) and extension (backward bend) occur.

Test for correct posture in the sagittal plane – stand with your back to the wall without a plinth. The back of the head, shoulder blades, buttocks, calf muscles and heels should touch the wall, the distance between the wall and the body in the region of the cervical and lumbar lordosis is about 2-3 fingers.

The frontal plane divides the body into front and back sides. In the frontal plane, the body bends sideways. Curvature of the spine in the frontal plane and asymmetry of the right and left parts of the body are a clear sign of pathology of the musculoskeletal system. Postural disorders in the frontal plane are often combined with an oblique position of the pelvis.

In the horizontal plane, the vertebrae rotate when the body turns. Twisting the spine in the horizontal plane is a hallmark of scoliosis.

Poor posture in the sagittal plane

Slouching. The thoracic kyphosis is enlarged, its apex is in the upper part of the thoracic region. The lumbar lordosis is smoothed. The shoulders are lowered and brought forward, the shoulder blades are not adjacent to the back (pterygoid shoulder blades).

Round back. Kyphosis is evenly increased throughout the thoracic region, the lumbar lordosis is somewhat smoothed, the head is tilted forward, the shoulders are lowered and brought forward, the shoulder blades are not adjacent to the back.The round back is characterized by a sunken chest and flat buttocks. Due to the shortening of the pectoral muscles, the child cannot fully raise his arms up.

Round-concave back. All bends of the spine are increased, the head, neck, shoulder girdles are tilted forward, the stomach protrudes and hangs down. The knees are extended as far as possible to keep the center of gravity within the supporting surface. The muscles of the abdomen, back, hamstrings and buttocks are stretched and thinned. Due to the flabbiness of the abdominal press, the omission of the internal organs is possible.

Flat back. All bends of the spine are smoothed, lumbar lordosis is poorly expressed and displaced upward. The lower abdomen protrudes forward. The skeletal muscles are poorly developed, the muscles of the trunk and back are thinned. A flat back is a consequence of the functional inferiority of the muscles. With a flat back, scoliosis and other degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine develop more often than with other posture disorders. With this posture, compression fractures are more common.

Flat-concave back. The thoracic kyphosis is reduced, the lumbar lordosis is slightly increased. The pelvis is, as it were, shifted back and tilted forward, because of which the buttocks are set back, and the stomach protrudes forward and sags downward. The ribcage is narrow, the abdominal muscles are weakened.

Posture disorders in the frontal plane

They are characterized by an arcuate displacement of the line of the spinous processes of the vertebrae away from the midline of the back. Such postural abnormalities are difficult to distinguish from the early stages of scoliosis.

Unlike scoliosis, in case of functional impairment of posture in the frontal plane, the curvature of the spine and asymmetry of the right and left sides of the body disappear when muscles are unloaded in the supine position.

The main difference between scoliosis and “simple” posture disorders in the frontal plane is the twisting of the spine around its axis. The vertebrae are located like the steps of a spiral staircase.

Everyone has a slight asymmetry of the body, but if posture disorders in the frontal plane are noticeably pronounced, it’s time to go to the doctor.

PREVENTION OF POSTURE DISORDERS

Let’s talk about what to do so that your posture does not deteriorate and your spine remains healthy.

In the first years of a child’s life, good nutrition, massage and exercise are necessary both for health and for the normal formation of the spine. Regular visits to the doctor will promptly identify those disorders of the musculoskeletal system that appear when posture as such does not yet exist.Prevention of rickets and flat feet, hardening – at first this is enough for normal physical development

What else a child needs is from the first weeks of life. make friends with a good neurologist. More or less pronounced perinatal encephalopathy is now present in almost every newborn and often requires long-term treatment.

If the baby is relatively healthy, then until about three years old, his spine usually develops normally.A healthy child must move a lot, because of the peculiarities of the children’s nervous system and muscles, it is more difficult for him to maintain a fixed position than to run, jump, twirl and jump.

In a sitting or standing position, especially if it takes more than a few minutes to be in the same position, the child “sags”, the vertical load is transferred from the muscles to the ligaments and intervertebral discs, and the formation of an incorrect motor stereotype and poor posture begins. Small but regular physical activity (swimming, home exercise equipment, more outdoor games and less TV, daily exercise) are necessary conditions for the normal development of the musculoskeletal system.

Poor posture is guaranteed to almost every student without observing the basic rules. From the first day at school, the child’s spine begins to experience increased stress. Old-fashioned comfortable desks are no longer made, and schoolchildren from first to eleventh grades sit on chairs and tables designed for a fifth-grader of average height. We cannot influence the situation at school.

And how should a schoolchild’s workplace be organized at home?

• The seat depth of the chair should be slightly less than the distance from the sacrum to the popliteal fossa.
• To make sitting even more comfortable, a small soft cushion should be attached to the back of the chair at the level of the apex of the lumbar lordosis.
• The tabletop should be at the level of the solar plexus. At the same time, slightly spaced elbows freely rest on it, relieving the weight of the cervical spine from the weight of the hands, and the surface of the notebook is at the optimal distance from the eyes – 30 – 35 cm.
• Buy an expensive but comfortable chair with screws and hinges, where you can adjust the height of the seat, its depth, and the inclination of the back.
• Place a bench at such a height under your feet so that they do not dangle in the air and do not rise up.
• It is advisable to put books on the music stand at arm’s length from the eyes.
• Teach your child to sit up straight with equal support on both legs and buttocks.
• From time to time, the child must change his position. After every 30 – 45 minutes of classes, you should get up and move for 5-10 minutes.
• Make sure that the child does not develop the habit of sitting cross-legged, twisting one leg under him, removing from the table and hanging his non-working hand, sitting sideways to the table.

What else can be done to prevent postural disorders and diseases of the spine?

• Eat well
• Sleep on a flat bed with a hard base and a soft mattress, with a low, preferably special orthopedic pillow.
• After school, the student needs to lie down for at least an hour so that the muscles relax and rest.