# Shoulder Fracture

- Link: https://carolinaona.com/shoulder-fracture/
- Published: 2019-01-17T15:16:41-05:00
- Author: Dallas Clifton

# Shoulder Fractures

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### Shoulder Frcture Overview

The collar bone, upper arm bone and shoulder blade are the three shoulder bones.
A _shoulder fracture_ occurs when one or more of the bones break, usually after 
a serious accident or injury. A Carolina Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Associates’(
CONA) should see a shoulder fracture as soon as possible. An effective treatment
plan is prescribed so the bone(s) can heal as quickly as possible.

## **Symptoms & Causes**

Shoulder fracture symptoms include:

 * A grinding sensation when the shoulder moves (crepitus)
 * A visible shoulder lump
 * Bruising, pain and swelling
 * Decreased range of motion
 * Difficulty raising the arm

The most common shoulder fracture causes are:

 * Falls
 * Forceful blows to the shoulder
 * High-speed collisions (including sports collisions)
 * Motor vehicle accidents

## **Common Treatments:**

Nonsurgical treatment options treat nondisplaced shoulder fractures (the bones are
still anatomically aligned after the fracture). After a thorough evaluation, a CONA
shoulder specialist may recommend:

 * Immobilization in a comfortable sling
 * Pain and anti-inflammatory medications
 * Rest and ice\

Physical therapy may be prescribed after the fracture heals. Patients regain shoulder
strength, flexibility and function during one-on-one physical therapy sessions.

Surgery is commonly recommended to treat displaced fractures (the bone is not anatomically
aligned after the fracture). During an open reduction internal procedure (ORIF),
a CONA specialist aligns and fixates the fractured bone(s).

## **Diagnosis:**

X-rays are the most important part of a diagnosis. Multiple view x-rays show the
CONA specialist the shoulder bones from different angles so a fracture can be diagnosed.