Shoulder Fractures

A shoulder fracture is a break that could affect your shoulder blade, collarbone, or the upper part of your arm bone. Shoulder specialist Michael J. Bercik, Jr., MD, provides expert treatment that's essential to restore your range of motion, relieve pain, and prevent shoulder instability. If you have a shoulder fracture, make sure you avoid chronic pain and disability by calling the office in Lancaster, Ephrata, or Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, or requesting an appointment online today. 

What are shoulder fractures?

A shoulder fracture is an injury to one of the bones in your shoulder that causes it to break or shatter.

There are three bones in your shoulder:

• Scapula (shoulder blade)
• Clavicle (collar bone)
• Humerus (upper arm bone)

A network of ligaments, tendons, and muscles hold the bones together and enable you to move your arm.

Any of these three bones could suffer a trauma that results in a shoulder fracture. Clavicle fractures are a relatively common type of shoulder fracture, typically resulting from a fall or accident. Fractures of the humerus also occur due to these types of injuries.

Fractures of the scapula are less common, as your chest protects this broad, flattish bone. It usually requires the kind of impact you'd get in a high-speed auto accident.

What are the symptoms of shoulder fractures?

Any fracture to a bone in your shoulder is likely to cause pain, swelling, and bruising. You might not be able to move your shoulder, or if you can move it, you might feel a grinding sensation. Your shoulder might also look misshapen.

Symptoms specific to each type of fracture include:

Clavicle fracture

Clavicle fractures cause swelling in the center of your collarbone. You might see a lump where the ends of the fractured bones are sticking up under your skin and have a limited range of motion in your shoulder.

Humerus fracture

Humerus fractures cause severe swelling and pain in your shoulder and leave you with little or no mobility.

Scapular fracture

Scapular fractures are also particularly painful, and you're likely to have severe bruising on your shoulder blade.

How are shoulder fractures treated?

In many cases, shoulder fractures don't require surgery. If the fracture is a clean break, and Dr. Bercik can realign the bones using manipulation, the injury might only require immobilization followed by physical therapy.

If the fracture is more severe, for example, the bone has shattered into multiple pieces (comminuted fracture) or the ends of the bones are protruding through your skin (compound fracture), then you'll require surgery.

Shoulder fracture surgeries typically involve Dr. Bercik realigning the bones and fixing them in place with rods or pins inside the bone or screws and plates outside the bone. A severe fracture of the humerus might require shoulder replacement surgery.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, call the nearest office or request one online today.