Broken Arm: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments

Broken Arm: Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments

Description

A broken bone is commonly known as a fracture. Any bone in the arm can be broken, but common areas for fractures in the arm are:

  • Wrist, specifically the distal radius
  • Forearm bones (radius and ulna) (Figure 1A)
  • Elbow
  • Humerus
  • Shoulder

Causes

Most broken arms are caused by trauma. In younger people, common causes are falls from a height, sports injuries and motor vehicle accidents. In older people with weaker bones, a trip and fall from a standing height is a common cause of a broken arm.

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