The bones of the shoulder girdle are a solid foundation for numerous muscles, tendons and ligaments. It's no secret that the upper and lower limb is a person’s movement, the ability to perform various kinds of work. In order for the arms to be most developed and functional, a sufficiently solid bone base and strong joints are needed.
Nature envisioned everything in man, so the upper humeral girdle consists of the scapula, clavicle, humerus, ulna and radius, as well as small bones of the hand. Accordingly, muscles are attached to all these bone bases, due to which the arm is able to carry out movements.
The humerus is one of the largest and most massive bones in the human body. It consists of a diaphysis, or tubular bone body, and two epiphyses, which are articular surfaces.
If we analyze the anatomy of this formation more similarly, we can see how functionally this bone is thought out.
Like any surface, the humerus has a weak spot - the surgical neck, it is in this place that the bone most often breaks. However, the muscular skeleton is arranged in such a way that during physical exertion it is in this place that muscle mass increases most intensively, thereby protecting the bone.
In addition, the humerus has several protrusions, or tubercles, to which the largest muscles of the shoulder are attached. Crests or elevations extend between the protrusions, between which the inter-tubercle groove is located - in this place the tendon of the biceps of the shoulder is attached .
Two condyles are located in the region of the lower pineal gland, and above them two epicondyle are also peculiar bone tubercles that are part of the elbow joint. There are two pits here - the ulnar and coronary, they are necessary for a more dense comparison of the processes of the ulna and radius.
The humerus is a rather complex structure, and in addition to the supporting function, a number of others will also perform. For example, hematopoietic. As you know, all the tubular bones are organs that produce red blood cells. In the spongy substance of the bone is located red bone marrow, which performs this function.
In addition, spongy bone is capable of producing factors that affect the immune system and blood coagulation.
It should be noted that the size and diameter of the bone in each person is individual. It depends on the growth, the amount of nutrients received and on the genetic predisposition. Often you have to deal with a situation where patients have increased fragility or fragility of bones due to a lack of calcium and other trace elements. This process can form even in utero.
Shoulder fractures are often found in children of early school age and the elderly. This is due to the lifestyle of the former and a decrease in physiological strength in the latter case.
The humerus during a fracture is destroyed in the weakest place - in the area of the surgical neck, however, other variants of fractures are also found. In children, a subperiosteal fracture of the “green branch” type, and in adults, fractures with displacement of fragments.
In any of these situations, the patient needs qualified help.
The osteosynthesis of the humerus can be carried out in several ways. There is a special Ilizarov apparatus, which allows you to fasten existing fragments. The introduction of knitting needles can be carried out at absolutely any level and next to the joints. The complexity is the introduction of knitting needles in the upper third of the shoulder on the inner surface (in the axillary region), because this brings discomfort and inconvenience to the patient, therefore, spokes are inserted X-shaped in this area.
In order to most correctly combine fragments, you can use the method of skeletal traction before setting the apparatus.
Traumatologists often use special plates and screws for osteosynthesis of the humerus, if the site of damage is not too large and the number of fragments does not exceed 3-4 pieces.