Version July 2025
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What is a shoulder or upper arm fracture? —
This is when a bone in the shoulder or upper arm breaks. A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone.
The shoulder joint has 3 bones (figure 1):
●Upper arm bone (humerus), which goes from the shoulder to the elbow
●Shoulder blade (scapula)
●Collarbone (clavicle)
A shoulder fracture can involve any of the bones near the shoulder joint. Often, it means there is a break in the humerus near the shoulder. But the shoulder blade can also break if it is hit very hard, like in an accident or fall.
A shoulder or upper arm fracture can happen because of:
●A direct blow to the upper arm, shoulder, or shoulder blade
●Falling on the shoulder
●Falling on an outstretched arm
When a bone breaks, it might crack, break all the way through, or shatter.
There are different types of fractures, depending on which bone breaks and how. Examples include:
●"Open" fracture – This is when the bone sticks out of the skin or can be seen through a wound.
●"Closed" fracture – This is when the bone does not stick out of the skin and cannot be seen through a wound.
●"Stress fracture" – This is caused by overuse. It often happens in the foot or shin bones. It is more common in people who do an activity over and over, such as running, jumping, or dancing.
●"Avulsion" fracture – This is when a person moves a joint forcefully, and a ligament or tendon stretches or tears. It can pull so hard on the bone a small part of the bone cracks or breaks off.
Compared with adults' bones, children's bones are more likely to bend or break only partway. Special kinds of fractures children can get include "growth plate" fractures. This is when the growing part of the bone near the end breaks, often where a ligament attaches to it.
What are the symptoms of a shoulder or upper arm fracture? —
Symptoms depend on which bone breaks and the type of break. Common symptoms include:
●Pain, swelling, or bruising over the area
●The area looking abnormal, bent, or not the usual shape
●Not being able to move the arm or lift something with the arm
●Numbness in the area of the broken bone
If a fracture injures a nerve, this can also cause symptoms in nearby areas. For example, a break to the upper arm bone might cause pain, tingling, or weakness in the elbow and wrist.
Is there a test for a shoulder or upper arm fracture? —
Yes. The doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and take an X-ray.
They might also do other imaging tests, such as a CT, MRI, or ultrasound. These create pictures of the inside of the body.
How are shoulder or upper arm fractures treated? —
Treatment depends, in part, on the which bone breaks, the type of fracture, and how serious it is. The goal is to have the ends of the broken bone line up with each other so the bone can heal.
If the ends of the broken bone are already in line with each other, the doctor might put on an arm sling or a shoulder immobilizer with straps to hold the arm and wrist in place (figure 2). This limits shoulder movement and keeps the bone in the correct position so it can heal.
If the ends of the broken bone are not in line with each other, the doctor might need to line them up:
●Sometimes, they can move the bone to the correct position without doing surgery, and then put a cast, splint, or brace on. This is called "closed fracture reduction."
●For more serious fractures, they might need to do surgery to put the bone back in the correct position. During surgery, they can use screws, pins, rods, or plates to fix the bone inside the body. This is called "open fracture reduction."
How long do shoulder or upper arm fractures take to heal? —
Most take weeks to months to heal. The doctor or nurse will talk to you about when to return to things like work, sports, or other activities.
Healing time also depends on the person. Healthy children usually heal much more quickly than older adults or adults with other medical problems.
How do I care for myself at home? —
To care for yourself or your child at home:
●Follow the doctor's instructions for wearing the cast, splint, brace, sling, or shoulder immobilizer (figure 3). This supports and protects the bone as it heals.
●Do not get a cast wet, unless the doctor says it is waterproof.
●Follow instructions for limiting activity and movement until the bone is healed. The doctor or nurse will tell you what activities are safe to do. They might want you to do some gentle motion exercises to help prevent stiff joints.
●You can sleep in a recliner or with the head of the bed elevated. This keeps your injured shoulder or upper arm above the level of your heart. It might help lessen pain and swelling.
●The doctor might recommend you take an over-the-counter pain medicine. These include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol) and ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin). Adults can also take naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).
●You might get a prescription for stronger pain medicines to take for a short time. Follow the instructions for taking these.
●Ice can help with pain and swelling – Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and the cast, splint, or brace. Ice for at least 6 hours after an injury. It might help to ice longer, even up to 2 days.
●Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of calcium, vitamin D, and protein (figure 4).
●Quit smoking, if you smoke. Your doctor or nurse can help. Broken bones take longer to heal if you smoke.
●You might need to work with a physical therapist (exercise expert) after your fracture heals. They will suggest exercises and stretches to strengthen your arm or shoulder muscles and keep them from getting stiff.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for emergency help (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:
●Feel short of breath, or have trouble breathing
●Have sharp or severe chest pain
●Have severe belly pain
●Feel very lightheaded or like you are going to pass out
Call your doctor or nurse for advice if:
●You have weakness or less feeling or movement in your arm, hand, or fingers.
●Your shoulder or arm gets swollen or starts to hurt more.
●Your skin gets red or irritated around the cast, bandage, or shoulder immobilizer, or the redness spreads up your arm.
●The cast or splint feels too tight and uncomfortable, or your fingers turn pale, blue, or gray.
●A bad smell or drainage is coming from the cast or splint.
●The cast is too loose, or gets cracked or soft.
●The cast gets wet, and it is not supposed to get wet.
Patient education: Fractures in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Fractures in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Setting a broken bone in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Setting a broken bone in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgery to fix a broken bone (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for a splint (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a shoulder sling (The Basics)
