Broken arm

Broken arm overview

Broken arms account for over half of all broken bones recorded as a result of the vulnerability of the arm to injury. The arm consists of 3 major bones. The humerus runs from the shoulder to the elbow. At the elbow, the humerus connects with the radius and the ulna. These bones connect the elbow to the wrist and are regarded as the forearm.

Broken arm causes

Broken arms are caused by falls or trauma. Typically in falls, the outstretched hand bears the weight which can result in a broken arm anywhere between the wrist and shoulder. In incidents where trauma occurs, such as road traffic accidents, the arm is struck by a fixed object such as a steering wheel which results in a broken arm at the location of the impact.

Broken arm classifications

Depending on the type of impact an arm can break in several different ways. A simple fracture is a break that does not pierce the skin. Symptoms include severe pain that becomes worse over time and with movement, swelling, bruising and an inability to bear weight. A simple fracture is the most common type of broken bone. An impacted fracture is often caused by falls in this type of broken bone, one end of the bone is forced into the other. A spiral fracture is a break around the bone. This type of broken bone is often caused by the twisting effect of many sporting activities. Comminuted fractures, where a bone breaks into fragments, or compression fractures are the most common types of broken bones sustained in road traffic accidents due to the large forces involved.
We are experts in helping all of those who have sustained broken arms. Please contact us to see how we can help you recover compensation and receive the correct levels of rehabilitation to make your recovery as quick as possible.

Broken arm repair process

When an arm breaks, the break also opens up the blood vessels running down the length of the bone. Blood leaks out of these veins and quickly forms a clot at the site of the broken arm. The purpose of this is to stabilise the broken arm. The clot also cuts off the flow of blood to the jagged edges of the bone in the broken arm. In the following days the clot generates tougher tissue, transforming it into a soft callus. Cells called fibroblasts begin producing fibres of collagen, the major protein in bone and connective tissue. Chondroblasts then begin to produce a type of cartilage called fibrocartilage. This transforms the callus into a tougher fibrocartilaginous callus, which fuses the gap between the two pieces of bone in the broken arm. This callus generally lasts for about three weeks. Finally, osteoblasts move in and produce bone cells. This hard casing provides necessary protection for the broken arm to become fully healed.

Broken arm next steps

If you wish to see if you have an accident claim as a result of a broken arm, please contact us. Please also use the information on the pages below to find out more.