Arm Fracture Attorney

Well over a million people suffer arm fractures in the US each year. Most arm fractures are due to major traumatic injuries, such as falls on an outstretched arm, motor vehicle accidents, skiing accidents, assaults and child abuse. Among those with bone weakening conditions, such as bone tumors, osteoporosis, and certain metabolic diseases, however, minor traumas, or even coughing or sneezing, can cause arm or other bone fractures.

The arm contains three major bones with connections at the shoulder, elbow and wrist. The main bones are the humerus, which connects the shoulder to the elbow, the radius, and the ulna, the latter two of which connect the elbow to the wrist. The radius is on the thumb side of the arm and is the most frequently broken of the three. Wrist fractures are the most common of all fractures among people under the age of 75.

There are different kinds of fractures of bones in the arm (and elsewhere) including:

• Open or compound fracture - a part of the fractured bone protrudes through the skin
• Closed fracture - broken bone does not protrude through the skin
• Complete fracture - the bone has broken into at least two distinct pieces
• Comminuted fracture - the bone has broken into several pieces
• Incomplete fracture - the bone is cracked but still in one piece
• Displaced fracture - the bone is not aligned correctly
• Colles' fracture - the most common type of arm fracture in which the radius breaks near the wrist
• Greenstick fracture - one side of the bone is broken and the other side is bent (most common in children)
• Torus or buckle fracture - one side of the bone buckles upon itself while leaving the other side intact (also most common among children)

Depending on the location and severity of the fracture, treatment may include:

• Immobilization with the use of a sling, splint, brace, or cast
• Surgery, which may include the implantation of screws, plates, nails, or wires to help with bone healing and alignment
• Elevation, ice and/or heat (at different phases of recovery)
• Medication to relieve swelling and pain
• Rehabilitation for further healing after immobilization and/or surgery

Complications can occur if the fracture was severe, affected nerve areas, or are/was poorly treated. Complications following an arm fracture may range from chronic stiffness and pain, to infection, nerve or blood vessel injury, or compartment syndrome, a serious condition in which increased pressure within a confined area impairs blood supply and possibly leads to nerve damage and muscle death.

If you or a loved one has suffered a broken arm, get immediate medical attention because timely treatment can make the difference in the proper healing and prevention of complications. If the fracture was due to the negligence of another, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a qualified personal injury attorney with experience in arm fracture cases for an evaluation of your case.