Has anyone fractured their humerus?

[BMC]

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Well some of you might remember my post last year about my busted clavicle, well it turns out out I managed to break my humerus this time around.

It's been almost 9 weeks post break and things aren't looking too good. Initially I was told to let it heal as the break wasn't too bad but over time the two just started getting further apart and now I'm looking at another plate and some more hardware .

Was wondering if anyone had opted for surgery after a humerus break and, if so, are you happy with the end result? TIA!

 

[FullMotoJacket]

Broke mine in 74. Nice clean break a couple of inches south of the shoulder. Had to wear the classic plaster sweatshirt with the stick holding the arm up at 90 deg. for a month then I was good to go 2 weeks later, and skiing a month after that. 16 at the time. YRMV.

 

[gan aifeala]

Shattered my humerus (proximal, near the shoulder) a number of years ago playing hockey and had a couple of plates and about 10 screws put in. Follow up by the particular surgeon was horrendous - almost impossible to get appts with him, so physio referral wasn't done soon enough. I also had nerve damage after the surgery (always a risk with this surgery) - no feeling in my forearm for several years. Lack of physio resulted in loss of range of motion even to this day, and some gross sounding grinding sounds if I rotate my arm (although I'm quite proud of those). Most of the nerve issues have resolved but it took over 2 years.

Couple of second opinions during the healing process (or lack thereof) was that surgery probably wasn't the best course of action....not that I was given a choice at the time. But I certainly would suggest getting second opinions. If you do have the surgery, be aware of the possibility of nerve damage, and make sure they physio starts as soon as possible. Once you lose the range of motion, very hard to get it back. Kept me off the bike for several years
Good luck with whatever you do.

 

[GentlemanRacer]

Physio.

Physio.

Physio.

Did I mention physio?

DO IT. ALL OF IT.

I splintered mine, vertical from hyper extended elbow (as nasty as it sounds), did most physio, got "most" motion back. Arm was pinned together, long time in a cast, generally unpleasant.

But you should've seen the other guy.

 

[BusaBob]

where did you break it? near the shoulder, at the shoulder, mid-shaft or near the elbow?

a break near the shoulder cannot be mobilized early but you should see a physical therapist early so that they can teach you what you can/cannot and should do with your arm.

 

[BMC]

The break happened mid-shaft that looked like a clean break. The break got progressively worse as the weeks went by as the bones started to shift a bit. 3 weeks ago when I went in for a check up although there was some varus angulation (10 degress) it was more than acceptable to the surgeon. I was given some exercises for the elbow and hand and was told to start working the arm. "Any risk of the bone shifting, Doc?". "Nope" looks very solid. So I went home super happy and started working the arm.

Fast forward to yesterday. Went in and took some new x-rays. The position of the x-rays taken were slightly different then in the past and when I went in to see the surgeon we were both in shock. The arm looked absolutely horrendous. He couldn't believe his eyes and started questioning me as to what I had done to the arm even hinting at the fact that I had fallen on the arm again. I had mentioned the different angle of he x-rays. He was ready to send me home when I spoke up and asked for some new x-rays with the same angles. When I saw him a second time, although the angles were a lot better the angulation now approaching 30 degrees which is the upper limit and was now told to seriously consider surgery.

Needless to say I was not happy since I followed everything I was told to a T. Now I got a make the call as if I should opt for surgery within the next 2 weeks before the bones completely fuse and they have to re-break it. My biggest issue is the radial nerve damage. If the nerve gets severed during surgery there goes your hand. Thanks for the feedback so far and keep them coming

 

[BusaBob]

you're in a tough position. surgical complications are always a risk, but they rarely do happen. small consolation to the person it happens to, though.

on the other hand, a 30 degree angulation in your humerus is going to significantly impact the function of your arm.

again, if it were me, i'd go for the surgery. but you have to weigh all the pro's and con's as they relate to you.

btw, weren't you placed in a humerus brace (or even a coaptation splint)?

 

[speedster]

I had this issue after a bicycle accident. Not sure what my exact reasoning was, but I did nothing about it. No x-ray, no ER, nothing. It may have been a chipped bone, a fracture, who knows (but definitely an issue that was having a serious effect on mobility/strength, even quality of sleep due top the discomfort.

Defineitely a painful injury compared to other issues I've dealt with. First six months to year, I was sure I had made a big mistake (ignoring it). Twisting the arm, lifting out the garbage, reaching into the back seat of the car from the front, I'll just say WOW (pain was off the scale)!!

Not sure if there is any angulature or not, as this was never examined, but its not readily apparent just by looking at it. It was often quite painful suddenly and sharply, like the sharp/jagged end of the bone was pressing a nerve or connective tissue.

One time, during winter following the incident I slipped on some ice (landing on the elbow, obviously had to be the side with the injury) and again it was an eyebrow-raising, sharp pain. Not sure if this was related or not, but slowly from then on, it seemed like things were fusing together and healing improved. I think that pressing force directed on the elbow, pushed stuff towards each other and it just seemed to be better from then on.

 

[BusaBob]

speedster, i doubt you had a broken humerus (mid-shaft). a break there would have been obvious, and very, very limiting in what you could do with the arm (your arm wouldn't even look normal).

from what you described, you may have had severe rotator cuff tendinitis or partial tear, or a labral tear.

a type of compression fracture up in the ball of the shoulder is always a possibility too, but that would have to been confirmed on an x-ray.

 

[speedster]

Nope, it wasn't up at the ball or even near the shoulder joint itself, it was midway up the shaft of the bone. Just about exactly halfway between elbow and shoulder (that bonier part of the arm where there ain't much muscle tissue between the skin and the actual bone). Who really knows what it was, as I stated this was never examined, but it was also not a first broken/fractured bone for me either..and it lingered for well over a yr, so not some small bruise and is still today weaker than my other side (very tough to do pec flys on a machine at the gym, I have to cut the weight in half for the one side).

speedster, i doubt you had a broken humerus (mid-shaft). a break there would have been obvious, and very, very limiting in what you could do with the arm (your arm wouldn't even look normal).

from what you described, you may have had severe rotator cuff tendinitis or partial tear, or a labral tear.

a type of compression fracture up in the ball of the shoulder is always a possibility too, but that would have to been confirmed on an x-ray.

 

[BMC]

you're in a tough position. surgical complications are always a risk, but they rarely do happen. small consolation to the person it happens to, though.

on the other hand, a 30 degree angulation in your humerus is going to significantly impact the function of your arm.

again, if it were me, i'd go for the surgery. but you have to weigh all the pro's and con's as they relate to you.

btw, weren't you placed in a humerus brace (or even a coaptation splint)?

Yup, I was given a sarmiento brace, very similar to the above brace. To be honest it helped with straightening the bone but never manage to straighten out the bottom half. Ah well, just want to put this whole ordeal behind me.

 

[BusaBob]

Nope, it wasn't up at the ball or even near the shoulder joint itself, it was midway up the shaft of the bone. Just about exactly halfway between elbow and shoulder

that's a common site of pain for shoulder injuries...some people have a hard time getting their head around it, but it's true.

without having had it examined, it's a guess as to what the source of the pain was, but if I had to bet on it, i seriously doubt it was broken, like BMC is going through.

 

[BusaBob]

Yup, I was given a sarmiento brace, very similar to the above brace. To be honest it helped with straightening the bone but never manage to straighten out the bottom half. Ah well, just want to put this whole ordeal behind me.

that sucks dude. hope the surgery goes well.

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