Humerus Fracture

The management of patients affected by humerus fractures strongly depends on the specifics of the injury, such as its location (proximal/distal ends or shaft), bone fragments position (e.g.: displaced, non-displaced, etc.), associated injuries (e.g.: muscle-skeletal, neural, vascular system, etc.) and the characteristics of the affected patients (e.g.: age). Due to their high-energy traumatic mechanisms, patients with humerus fractures are typically assessed by emergency doctors who have the paramount function of assessing the need for surgical stabilisation. Certain humerus fractures (e.g.: small and stable fractures that do not significantly compromise shoulder functioning) can be managed conservatively with immobilisation/protection (through the implementation of a cast, sling or support) and rehabilitation. In case surgical treatment is deemed necessary, many different procedures (e.g.: open reduction internal fixation, closed reduction and percutaneous pinning, intramedullary nailing, etc.) are available and always discussed between the patient and the medical-surgical staff. After surgery, a period of immobilisation/protection with the use of a sling, cast or brace is typically recommended and rehabilitation should start as soon as indicated by the medical team. After being thoughtfully visited by one of our specialised doctors, your recovery process will be structured in different stages and take place in four different environments, the pool, the gym, the movement analysis and retraining room and the pitch. In the early stages, the main goals are to restore homeostasis by reducing pain and swelling, recovering mobility, and gradually restoring upper limb functioning. In the mid-stage of rehabilitation, shoulder strength and endurance recovery become the priority, together with the optimisation of the general movement quality to learn how to integrate the shoulder back into activities of daily living and sports. Finally, to complete the recovery process, on-field rehabilitation plays a fundamental role in allowing our patients to safely and effectively return to participate in their favourite activities and sports that require the utilisation of the upper limb (e.g.: throwing-, rackets-, falling-, lifting- related sports), maximising the recovery outcomes and reducing the likelihood of complications.