A Splint for a Humerus Fracture

The humerus is the long bone located between the elbow and the shoulder joints in the upper arm.

The humerus is made up of three different anatomic parts: the proximal humerus, the shaft and the distal humerus.

The proximal humerus is part of the shoulder joint, and the distal humerus is part of the elbow joint. The shaft of the humerus can fracture as a result of trauma, including falls, motor vehicle accidents, gunshot wounds and birth trauma. Some humeral shaft fractures occur as a result of a tumor present in the bone; these are called pathologic fractures.

The shaft of the humerus can be fractured near the shoulder, near the elbow or between the shoulder and the elbow.

Most humerus fractures are closed injuries where there is no break in the skin overlying the fracture site.

When the skin is broken during a fracture, it is known as an open fracture. Treatments for humerus fractures are typically nonoperative; however, some require surgery to improve clinical outcomes.

Indications for Splinting

Most humeral-shaft fractures are treated with an initial coaptation, splint followed by either a functional brace or a hanging arm cast. Indications for surgical repair of humeral-shaft fractures include injury to vessels, severe soft tissue injury, an open fracture where bone penetrates skin, a pathologic fracture and severe displacement of the fracture fragments.

Fractures of the proximal or distal humerus are not treated with coaptation splinting. An orthopedic surgeon or qualified healthcare provider should be consulted regarding the treatment of all humerus fractures.

Coaptation Splint

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A coaptation splint is a "U-shaped" splint that is placed under the axilla or arm-pit, wrapped around the elbow and terminating near the top of the shoulder. The entire length of the humerus bone is included in the splint. The splint is heavily padded. A coaptation splint is typically used for 7 to 10 days, until more definitive treatment is performed, such as with a functional brace, cast or surgery. Patients will wear a sling to help with comfort after the coaptation splint is applied.

Bracing

Functional bracing is typically applied 7 to 10 days after the humeral-shaft fracture, but can also be an initial option for treatment. Functional bracing and a hanging cast are the definitive nonoperative options for management of humeral-shaft fractures. The tension on the fracture brace can be adjusted to help improve alignment of the fracture fragments. The functional brace extends from just below the shoulder to just above the elbow to overlie the humerus.

It does allow for some movement to take place at the fracture site during healing. The functional brace allows for shoulder and elbow movement, which helps to maintain range of motion of these joints during the healing process of the fracture.

Time Frame

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Dr. Augusto Sarmiento, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Miami, wrote an article in the "Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery" in 2000 about the effectiveness of functional bracing of humeral-shaft fractures.

A total of 922 patients with humeral-shaft fractures participated in a study conducted by Sarmiento, who discovered that average time to healing for a humeral-shaft fracture was 11.5 weeks, with a healing range from 5 to 22 weeks. The study proved that functional bracing was a definitive way to treat humeral-shaft fractures.

Side Effects

Side effects of humeral-shaft fractures treated with nonoperative methods include nonunion, malunion, nonresolution of a radial nerve palsy and infection. Vascular injuries noticed at the initial time of surgery are treated surgically.

Nonunion refers to no signs of healing of the fracture site.

Malunion refers to poor and incomplete healing of the fracture. Some deformity of the humerus is an acceptable clinical outcome.

The radial nerve can be injured at the time of injury or during the post-fracture management. Approximately 90 percent of patients who have a radial nerve palsy recover within 4 to 6 months, according to the "Handbook of Fractures.&quot 2;