In working conditions or at home, the most common accident is precisely a broken arm. No one is immune from damage to the bones of the upper extremities, therefore, it is necessary to have a general idea of what symptoms are characteristic of this type of injury, how diagnostics are carried out and what modern medicine can offer for quick recovery.
Anatomical information
Before talking about a broken arm, you need to familiarize yourself with the structure of the limb. It consists of a significant number of bone elements. The largest parts include the scapula, collarbone, and three bones: the radial, ulnar, and humerus. All of them are large.
The belt of the upper limb is connected directly to the humerus. It holds only one bunch. It is adjacent to the coracoid process of the scapular part. The elbow joint is needed to connect the humerus and forearm. At the very bottom is a brush. It is held at the expense of the wrist joint. The brush has a large number of small bones, providing its mobility.
Possible reasons
Hand fractures include injuries in which the integrity of the bone is partially or completely impaired. The most common injuries are:
- forearms;
- brushes;
- shoulder and elbow joints;
- fingers;
- shoulder.
The most common cause of such damage is a fall from a height or from a standing position directly onto an outstretched arm. Bone integrity can also be compromised by a strong blow to the upper limb. Sometimes even a mild physical effect contributes to injury if there are concomitant diseases that lead to weakening of bone tissue.
In traditional medicine, hand fractures fall into two broad categories. One of them is injuries of a traumatic nature, and the other is pathological. Bone integrity can be compromised partially or completely. In the first case, they say that a crack has appeared. In medical practice, marginal fractures also occur when a small fragment is separated from the joint.
What symptoms are present?
Doctors pay attention to certain signs before diagnosis. The causes and symptoms of a broken arm provide a complete picture of potential bone damage. But in order to understand that this happened, you do not need to have a medical education.
The absolute signs of a fracture are as follows:
- the hand is in an unusual position;
- the appearance of a crunch with a slight pressure on the damaged area;
- bone fragments protrude outward;
- there is an open wound with heavy bleeding;
- limb mobility is completely impaired.
When making a diagnosis, they are also guided by relative symptoms. And they are:
- in a damaged place there is a very strong pain sensation, giving to body parts located nearby;
- the injured section begins to swell, bruising often appears;
- there is a feeling of cold in the upper limb;
- deformations of the arm occur;
- in violation of nerve fibers, joints can be paralyzed.
Closed and open fractures
In the first case, when damaged, the bone does not break through the soft tissue. It can not be seen at a visual inspection. A fracture of the arm bone may occur with or without displacement. Much depends on the strength of the effect on the limb. With this scenario, there are usually not too serious consequences.
An open fracture is more complex, since not only the joint is damaged, but also the soft tissues surrounding it. Usually in such cases, a bone protruding outward can be seen. Such injuries are diagnosed without unnecessary difficulties. Almost always there is heavy bleeding.
First Aid Rules
The main task for fractures of the arm bone is to ensure a condition in which the joint will be completely immobilized. This is done by applying the tire directly to the damaged area. This design can be made from improvised materials. Various boards, sticks, whetstones will do.
The found elements should be bandaged with high quality to a damaged hand in order to achieve immobility. In this position, pain will decrease, and bone fragments will not be able to move.
It happens that the superimposed tire causes severe pain. In this case, it is necessary to ensure at least partial immobility of the joint, fixing it in the right position with a regular bandage. Enormous force must not be applied to reposition or align the injured part of the arm. This can worsen the condition of the patient.
If necessary, the victim can be given any pain medication. You should not resort to any other drugs. Do not self-medicate. Some drugs can increase bleeding or worsen the patient's well-being. Better just wait for the ambulance to arrive.
With finger fractures, severe swelling usually appears. It is recommended to remove the rings from the damaged phalanx. With the growth of the tumor, a shutdown of the blood supply may occur. However, excessive force must not be used during removal. In a couple of hours there will be no serious negative consequences.
With an open fracture of the arm with displacement and heavy bleeding, it is advisable to rewind the injured area with a sterile bandage tightly. If the presence of bright scarlet blood is observed, then it is best to impose a rubber tourniquet above the site of damage. An ordinary cloth bandage will do. Bright scarlet blood usually indicates the presence of arterial bleeding, which poses a threat to human life.
Diagnosis and treatment
The doctor must accurately determine the degree of damage received, so diagnostic tests are immediately prescribed. They are made using an x-ray machine. In more complex situations, if the damage has affected the nervous tissue, then magnetic resonance therapy or computed tomography can be performed.
Treatment is prescribed individually, while the nature of the injury plays a significant role. In most cases, gypsum is applied in case of a fracture of the arm. When wearing it, you must follow all the doctor’s instructions. It is required to provide normal conditions for bone fusion.
Local anesthesia is mandatory to reduce pain. To improve the coalescence of the parts, preparations containing calcium are used. To restore the motor function of the limb, you need to remove the swelling and regularly engage in light gymnastic exercises that help restore lost opportunities.
If there is an open fracture, surgery is required. Usually, the bones cannot be positioned by applying gypsum. Surgical intervention is carried out within a few days after receiving damage until the bone marrow has formed.
Limb development
Necessarily performed therapeutic exercises after gypsum. When a hand fractures, functionality is significantly reduced. It must be returned as soon as possible. To begin to fully perform all the actions that a person carried out before the injury, it is necessary to make some efforts.
The muscles are inactive for a long time, so they are significantly weakened. At first, they will have to be strengthened with special exercises.
- Squeezing the palm is the simplest action. It should begin with him, giving the hand a gradual load.
- Plasticine exercises help restore lost motility. Over time, finger movements will become more accurate. A piece of plasticine must be carefully sorted by phalanges.
- A very effective exercise can be performed to improve blood flow. The patient should sit on a chair or some object that fits in height. In this position, the arms are extended forward and carefully removed in different directions. Brushes can be clenched into fists or open.
- To restore the lost muscle strength will allow the exercise using a tennis ball. The projectile should be thrown into the wall and caught after the rebound of the injured limb. Exercise is great for developing a hand after a fracture. It is recommended to perform it for 10 minutes several times a day.
Women to design brushes can do embroidery or knitting. As for men, they are recommended light work in the garden. Children can paint after a broken arm. There are other ways to develop a limb. It is only necessary to find a passion for the soul.
Tonic massage
Even at the stage of wearing gypsum, you can carry out useful activities. Excellent massage helps in this regard. It allows you to restore normal blood circulation so that the tissues are filled with the right amount of oxygen. Mechanical exposure also helps get rid of edema.
If at the stage of wearing a plaster cast, massage manipulations are performed with low intensity, then after removing it, you can proceed to the full-fledged procedures. These include kneading and rubbing the damaged limb with your fingers.
If desired, the arm after the fracture can be massaged with special applicators and rollers. To enhance to some extent the warming effect allows therapeutic ointments.
Help physiotherapeutic procedures
After completing the main course of treatment, you can begin to support activities. The role of physiotherapy in accelerating the healing time of limb fractures cannot be underestimated.
3-4 days after casting, certain procedures are prescribed.
- The impact of interference currents on the hand helps to reduce pain and relieve swelling.
- Ultraviolet irradiation is designed to normalize blood flow directly at the site of injury.
- Isotonic tension of muscle fibers allows you to maintain tissue tone.
After removing the gypsum, they go on to other procedures.
- Magnetic therapy to some extent accelerates the process of bone growth, and also makes metabolism faster.
- Laser exposure makes it possible to reduce inflammation in a damaged place.
- Ultrasound therapy improves the transportation of the drugs used.
- Electrophoresis involves conducting electrical impulses directly through the tissue.
The above procedures are carried out in courses of approximately 5-10 sessions. Together with them, it is recommended to take therapeutic baths and mud wraps. When appointing, individual characteristics of the body are taken into account.
How long does the recovery period take?
The duration of rehabilitation and treatment of a hand fracture depends on the complexity of the injury and the characteristics of the body of a particular person. For example, at a young age, bone fusion is faster than in older people. Significantly increases recovery time the presence of bias. In any case, open fractures take longer to heal than closed ones.
Damage to the shoulder joints heals on average about three months. In case of radiation fracture of the arm, it is enough to wait no more than 40-60 days. Injured hands begin to function fully in a month. The scaphoid bones located in the wrist area heal the longest. The term of their treatment and recovery can reach six months.
What are the negative consequences?
Any person who has a fracture of the upper limb may encounter certain problems in the treatment process. Sometimes the bones grow together incorrectly, and this significantly affects the functionality of the hand. There are pains in the joints located in the immediate vicinity. In this case, only an operation involving opening the damaged area will help.
With open fractures, pathogenic microorganisms can get into the wound, which will lead to the appearance of ulcers. Therefore, safety measures must not be neglected. It is always necessary to treat wounds with antiseptic compounds. For dressing, only sterile bandages should be used.
Bone injuries can also lead to fat embolism. Even with timely surgery, blockage of blood vessels directly by subcutaneous fat may occur. The manifestation of such a complication is sometimes confused with a traumatic shock, so the problem is exacerbated.
Preventive measures and prognosis
To prevent damage to the upper limbs, appropriate protective equipment should be used during sports activities, as well as during dangerous work. The development of osteoporosis, which is a disease in which bone density is reduced, should not be allowed.
Regardless of age, everyone should eat a diet with adequate amounts of protein and calcium. It is necessary to exercise regularly so that the bone skeleton receives a certain load.
As for the prognosis, it is rather favorable, since many injuries heal quite quickly. Over time, lost functionality is restored. However, the presence of chronic diseases can slow down the treatment process. This applies, for example, to diabetes or osteoporosis. These pathologies can also lead to complications.
General recommendations in conclusion
Regardless of whether the hand is injured after a fracture of the radius, the humerus or any other, it is necessary to adhere to some rules. Their violation can lead to an increase in the duration of treatment or the development of complications. They are quite simple, but they should not be neglected. Firstly, do not remove gypsum yourself. Secondly, you need to keep your hand clean. Thirdly, a soft pillow or something similar should be placed under the upper limb when resting. Finally, it is required to observe all the indications of the attending physician, even if they seem insignificant.