Broken Arm (Arm Fracture): Causes, Diagnosis, and More

A broken arm, also known as an arm fracture, occurs when one or more of the bones in your arm crack or break. Broken arms are common and can result from falls, accidents, or sports injuries.

Your arm is made up of three main bones. The humerus is the long bone in the upper arm that extends from your shoulder to your elbow joint. The radius and ulna in the forearm run parallel, connecting your elbow to your wrist. These bones allow you to lift, carry, and move objects.

The treatment for a broken arm depends on the location and severity of the break. Here’s what you need to know about a broken arm.

If you break your arm, your healthcare provider might describe the fracture. Knowing the type of fracture helps them decide how to treat your injury. Some common types of fractures include:

• Transverse fractures: The bone is broken in a straight line
• Oblique fractures: The break is at an angle or slanted
• Spiral fractures: The bone is broken in a twisting pattern
• Comminuted fractures: The bone is broken into more than two pieces
• Greenstick fractures: The bone does not break all the way through

Fractures can also be categorized as non-displaced and displaced. With a non-displaced fracture, the broken ends of the bone have not moved out of place. In a displaced fracture, the broken ends have shifted out of their normal position.

If your arm is broken, it may be obvious because it looks bent or crooked. Other times, if the bone hasn’t moved too much, it’s hard to tell if it is broken. Here are some things to watch out for:

• Bruising, including discoloration or dark patches
• Pain when you try to move it
• Swelling
• Deformity, such as your arm looks bent or twisted
• Trouble turning your arm from palm up to palm down
• Numbness or tingling

In some cases, you might see the bone poking through your skin. This is called an open fracture and is a sign of a more serious break. Go to the emergency room immediately because there’s a chance of infection when the bone pokes through the skin.

If you have any of the above symptoms or are unsure whether your arm is broken, have a healthcare professional evaluate you.

A broken arm can happen in various ways, but some causes are more common than others. Here are a few examples:

• Falls: When you fall, your natural reaction is to put your hands out to catch yourself. This can lead to a broken arm, especially if you fall directly on your elbow or land on your outstretched arm.
• Direct blow: A hard hit on the elbow or forearm can cause a break. This could happen if you’re hit with a baseball bat, a car door during a crash, or anything else that impacts your arm with a lot of force.
• Accidents: Car or motorcycle accidents can lead to arm fractures, especially if your arm hits something hard or gets twisted during the crash.
• Sports injuries: Many forearm fractures happen during sports, either from falls or direct impacts. This is especially common in activities like skateboarding and contact sports.

Risk Factors

You don’t always need a major accident to break a bone. Some things can increase your risk of breaking your arm, though having a risk factor doesn’t mean you’ll break your arm:

• Age: Children and older adults are more likely to break their arms. 
• Bone conditions: Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones over time, making them more likely to break. Many people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they break a bone. Osteosarcoma—a type of bone cancer—can also lead to bone fractures because the tumor weakens the bones.
• Certain sports and occupations: Football, skiing, and skateboarding are some sports that can put you at a higher risk for arm fractures. Jobs like construction work or firefighting also raise your risk for arm fractures because of the physical nature of the work and the potential for accidents.
• Not getting enough calcium and vitamin D: These nutrients help keep your bones strong. Your bones may be more prone to breaking if you become deficient in these nutrients.

Your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and how you injured your arm. They’ll examine your arm, checking for cuts, swelling, and tenderness. They might gently feel around your entire arm to see if there are any other areas of concern, like a dislocated joint, and may ask you to wiggle your fingers or see if you can feel light touches, as sometimes nerves can be damaged when a bone breaks.

In addition to the physical examination, your healthcare provider will order an X-ray. An X-ray shows the bones in your body and can help your healthcare provider see if there’s a break and how severe it is.

You may sometimes need a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan. These scans provide a more in-depth look at your arm, including its soft tissues, ligaments, and bones.

The treatment for a broken arm depends on the type and severity of the fracture. The goal of treatment is to put the fractured ends of the bone back in place and keep them stable so they can heal properly. 

Your healthcare provider might prescribe a medication, like an opioid, to help with the pain. They may also suggest using an icepack and keeping your arm elevated above your heart while resting to ease the discomfort.

Non-Surgical Treatment

You may need a cast or splint to keep your arm from moving for a non-displaced fracture. You’ll likely wear the cast for 4-6 weeks, and your healthcare provider will take X-rays to check on the healing process.

Some displaced fractures can be treated with a closed reduction. During a closed reduction, your healthcare provider will give you medicine to help you relax or fall asleep. They will then move the bones back into the correct position without an incision. After the bones are realigned, your arm will be placed in a cast or splint to keep the bones in place while they heal.

Surgical Treatment

In some cases of displaced fractures, surgery to realign and stabilize the bones may be necessary. One option is open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). In this procedure, the orthopedic surgeon makes an incision, realigns the bones, and secures them with screws, plates, or rods. These internal fixation devices hold the bones in place while they heal.

Another option is external fixation, where the surgeon places metal pins or screws into the bone. These pins connect to a metal bar outside your arm, creating a frame that holds the bones in the right position. Your surgeon will tell you how to care for your arm and when you can use it again.

Physical Therapy

As your broken arm heals, the muscles around the injury may become weak and stiff. When your surgeon says it’s okay, you’ll start physical therapy (also called physiotherapy) to help you regain strength and movement in your arm. Physical therapy is an important part of the recovery process.

It’s not always possible to avoid accidents, but there are ways to reduce your risk of breaking your arm and other bones. Here are some preventative steps you can take.

Eat a Diet Rich in Calcium and Vitamin D

Get enough calcium and vitamin D to keep your bones strong. Strong bones can help reduce the risk of serious injuries or bone fractures if you fall. Dairy products, leafy greens (e.g., spinach), and fatty fish (e.g., salmon and tuna) are all good sources.

Exercise To Increase Bone Strength

Regular exercise can help keep your bones strong and reduce your risk of fractures. Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate activity, like brisk walking, most days of the week. You should also include some muscle-strengthening exercises a couple of times weekly.

Staying active also improves balance and leg strength, helping prevent falls that could lead to a broken arm.

Make Your Home Safer

Reduce your risk of falling by removing tripping hazards, installing grab bars in the bathroom, and ensuring your home is well-lit. You should also avoid walking on slippery surfaces or in dark or poorly lit rooms.

Talk to Your Healthcare Provider

Review your medications with your healthcare provider or pharmacist to see if any could make you dizzy or sleepy. These side effects increase your risk of falling and bone fracture. Some medications can also increase the risk of fractures, so be sure you talk about how to prevent breaks while on those drugs.

Wear Protective Gear

When doing activities with a high fall risk, like skating or snowboarding, always wear protective gear—especially wrist guards and elbow pads. Choose gear that fits well and stays in place as you move. While they can’t prevent every injury, protective gear can absorb some impact if you fall, reducing your risk of a serious fracture.

Most people recover well from a broken arm, especially if they receive prompt treatment. Even with successful treatment, you may experience long-term complications, such as:

• Stiffness: The muscles and joints around the fracture site can get tight and lose flexibility while your broken arm is healing. This stiffness can be painful and limit movement in your elbow or shoulder.
• Nerve or blood vessel damage: In some cases, the broken bone might injure a nerve or blood vessel. This can cause numbness, tingling, or circulation problems.
• Posttraumatic arthritis: A bone fracture can increase your risk of developing arthritis, a condition where the cartilage in your joint becomes damaged, causing pain and stiffness.
• Uneven bone healing: Sometimes, the bone might not heal appropriately, affecting your arm’s appearance or function. This is likely to occur if the bone ends aren’t aligned properly.
• Infection: If you have an open fracture, where the bone breaks through the skin, there’s a higher risk of infection. Signs of an infection include redness, swelling, pain around the injury site, or a temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (33.78 degrees Celsius). You may need long-term antibiotics to get rid of the infection.

If you notice any troubling symptoms or your recovery isn’t going as expected, notify your healthcare provider.

A broken arm is a common injury, especially from falls, accidents, or playing sports. The break can be simple, with the bone broken into two pieces, or it can be complex, with the bone shattered into multiple pieces. Common symptoms of a broken arm include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving your arm.

If you think you’ve broken your arm, see a healthcare provider right away. You may need a cast or splint to keep the bone still while it heals. For more serious fractures, surgery may be necessary.