Broken Arm

Complications

The complications of having a broken arm depends on the type, location and severity of your fracture. In general terms, a broken arm can lead to:

  • Stiff joint. If a fracture is near or involves a joint, it can lead to a stiff joint with a reduced range of movement. For example, an elderly person with an osteoporotic fracture of the shoulder (surgical neck of humerus) often is unable to reach as far above the head or around the back as they use to, even if the fracture has healed well.
  • Poor healing. A fracture which is slow to heal is called "delayed union", whilst a fracture that has failed to heal is called "nonunion".
  • Damage to nerves and vessels.
  • Arthritis. A fracture that involves the joint can lead to arthritis of that joint.
  • Weakness.

Treatment Investigations
13 June, 2010