The Different Types of Fractures | Knowing When You Need Emergency Care
The shoulder may be the most complex joint in your body, and it’s essential for handling many of the important tasks of daily life. While the bones are generally larger than many others in your body, they are still susceptible to fracture, whether in a motor vehicle accident, a slip-and-fall, or a sports-related injury. When you experience any type of trauma involving your shoulder joint, you need to be particularly careful, so that you don’t do things that aggravate your injury.
What Are the Different Types of Shoulder Fractures?
There are three bones that make up the shoulder joint, and any of them can sustain a fracture:
- The humerus—your upper arm bone, with a ball on the end of it that fits into the socket in your scapula
- The clavicle (collarbone)—the long, slightly curved bone that connects the front of your body to your arm, keeping your shoulder blade in the correct position
- The scapula (your shoulder blade)—the flat, triangular bone on your back at the upper end of your rib cage
How Do You Know If You Have a Shoulder Fracture?
When you break any one of the three bones that make up your shoulder, you can expect:
- Significant swelling all along and around your shoulder
- An inability to move or use your shoulder
- Pain with any type of movement
- A bump, lump, or other type of deformity you don’t normally have
- Black and blue marks, bruising, or discoloration
Common Causes of Shoulder Fractures
The most common cause of shoulder injury, including shoulder fractures, in athletic activity. Though tennis and baseball see the most shoulder injuries, football and hockey tend to cause the most shoulder fractures. Motor vehicle accidents also cause a significant number of shoulder fractures, either as a result of impact with a dashboard or steering wheel, or with another car. Many Americans can also be at risk of shoulder fractures in slips-and-falls.
Do You Need Immediate Care for a Shoulder Injury?
If you have any symptoms that suggest that you may have broken a bone in your shoulder, you should go to a hospital emergency room. Urgent care facilities may be able to treat relatively simple fractures, but are generally not equipped to provide the necessary care after a shoulder fracture.
