What's Humerus about a Broken Shoulder?

What is a Broken Shoulder? A broken shoulder is most commonly a fractured humerus. While I don't know anyone who finds it very funny to break a bone, your shoulder does have a humerous name. A fracture is the medical term for a broken bone. The humerus is your upper arm bone between your shoulder and elbow. When your humerus is fractured near or at the ball of your shoulder joint, it is commonly known as a broken shoulder. Your humerus can be broken in many places and the fracture is normally described by its location eg a fractured neck of humerus. Please Note: "fractured" is the medical term for a "broken bone".  Despite what your friends say, there is no difference in severity between a fractured bone and a broken bone. Common Shoulder Fractures Due to the main reason for shoulder fractures being falls, often a second shoulder fracture will occur at the same time.   The location of these fractures can have an impact on your treatment because of the attachment of important shoulder muscles.  If you use a muscle that is attached to a broken section this can be very painful or can cause a deformity when your fracture eventually heals.   Below is a list of muscles that attach to different parts of the shoulder.  Your physiotherapist or doctor will be able to explain what you should and shouldn't do if you have a fracture of the following regions: Greater tuberosity - supraspinatus, infraspinatus & teres minor Lesser tuberosity - subscapularis Humeral Head Shaft of Humerus - pec major (displaces shaft medially & internal rotation) How is Your Broken Shoulder Treated? More info: Broken Shoulder Contact PhysioWorks Book Online