Upper Limb Fractures

ORTHOPAEDIC TRAUMA SERVICES

Upper Limb Fractures

Whether you've suffered a sports-related injury, a fall, or a workplace incident, our skilled orthopaedic trauma team is here to provide you with top-quality care throughout your journey. We understand the impact that foot and ankle injuries can have on your daily life, and we are dedicated to assisting you in regaining mobility and independence.

Broken Arm

Causes

Broken arms can occur due to various reasons, including:

Falls onto an outstretched arm.
Direct impact or trauma to the arm during sports activities, accidents, or other incidents.
Stress fractures from overuse or repetitive motions.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a broken arm may include:

Sudden, sharp pain in the arm.
Swelling and tenderness at the site of the injury.
Visible deformity, such as misalignment or abnormal angulation of the arm.
Bruising, redness, or warmth around the affected area.
Difficulty moving the arm or pain with movement.

Types of Arm Fractures

Arm fractures can present in different forms, such as:

Humeral fractures: Involving the upper arm bone (humerus) and may be classified based on location and pattern of the break.
Forearm fractures: Involving the radius and/or ulna bones in the lower part of the arm, which can vary in complexity and alignment.
Elbow fractures: Involving the distal humerus or proximal radius and ulna near the elbow joint.

Diagnosis

Accurate diagnosis of a fractured arm is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment plan. Our orthopaedic specialists utilize several diagnostic techniques, including:

Physical examination: Assessing the arm for pain, swelling, deformity, and range of motion limitations.
Imaging studies: X-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans to visualise the fracture, evaluate bone alignment, and identify any associated soft tissue damage.

Treatment

The treatment approach for a broken arm depends on the type and location of the fracture, as well as the patient's overall health and activity level. Our orthopaedic trauma team offers a range of treatment options, including:

Non-surgical methods: Simple fractures may be treated with casting or splinting to immobilize the arm and promote healing.
Surgical intervention: Complex or displaced fractures may require surgery to realign the bones using internal fixation devices such as plates, screws, or rods.
Rehabilitation and follow-up care: Our team collaborates with physical therapists to design a personalized rehabilitation programme aimed at restoring strength, flexibility, and function in the injured arm.

Clavicle (Collarbone) Fractures

Causes

Clavicle fractures can occur due to various reasons, such as:

Direct impact or trauma to the shoulder area, often from falls, sports injuries, or motor vehicle accidents.
Overuse or repetitive stress on the clavicle bone, leading to stress fractures.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of a clavicle fracture may include:

Pain in the shoulder region, especially with arm movement.
Swelling, tenderness, or bruising around the collarbone area.
Visible deformity or a bump near the shoulder due to bone displacement.
Audible signs like a crackling sound with shoulder movement.
Restricted range of motion or difficulty moving the shoulder.

Diagnosis

Accurate diagnosis of a clavicle fracture is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment approach. Our orthopaedic experts use a combination of diagnostic techniques, including:

Physical examination: Assessing pain, swelling, deformity, and shoulder mobility.
Imaging studies: X-rays or CT scans to visualize and evaluate the extent of the fracture and any associated soft tissue damage.

Treatment

The treatment of a clavicle fracture depends on factors like the type of fracture, displacement, and patient's overall health. Our orthopaedic trauma team offers various treatment options, including:

Non-surgical methods: Simple fractures may be managed with immobilization using slings, braces, or splints to promote healing.
Surgical intervention: Complex or displaced fractures may require surgery to realign and stabilize the bone fragments using internal fixation devices like plates, screws, or rods.
Rehabilitation and follow-up care: We work alongside physical therapists to create personalized rehabilitation plans aimed at restoring shoulder strength, flexibility, and function.

Paediatric Elbow Fractures

Causes

Elbow fractures in children can occur due to various reasons, including:

Falls onto an outstretched arm during play or sports activities.
Trauma or accidents, such as bicycle or playground injuries.
Direct impact or excessive force to the elbow joint.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of elbow fractures in children may include:

Pain, swelling, and tenderness around the elbow area.
Difficulty or reluctance to move the affected arm.
Visible deformity, such as abnormal positioning or swelling around the elbow joint.
Limited range of motion or inability to fully extend or flex the elbow.

Types of Ankle Fractures

Elbow fractures in children can present as various types, including:

Supracondylar fractures: Involving the humerus bone above the elbow joint, often as a result of falls on an outstretched hand.
Olecranon fractures: Involving the bony prominence at the back of the elbow, typically caused by direct trauma or a forceful blow to the elbow.
Radial head and neck fractures: Involving the upper part of the radius bone near the elbow joint, often occurring due to falls or accidents.

Diagnosis

Accurate diagnosis of elbow fractures in children is essential to ensure proper treatment. Our pediatric orthopaedic specialists utilize various diagnostic methods, such as:

Physical examination: Assessing pain, swelling, and mobility of the affected arm and elbow.
Imaging studies: X-rays or other imaging modalities to visualize the fracture, assess bone alignment, and detect any associated injuries.

Treatment

The treatment approach for elbow fractures in children depends on factors such as the type of fracture, displacement, and age of the child. Our orthopaedic trauma team offers a range of treatment options, including:

Non-surgical interventions: Simple fractures may be managed with casting or splinting to immobilize the elbow and promote healing.
Surgical management: Complex or displaced fractures may require surgical intervention to realign the bones and secure them with pins, screws, or plates.
Rehabilitation and follow-up care: Our team collaborates with pediatric physiotherapists to devise tailored rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring strength, flexibility, and function in the injured arm and elbow joint.

Hand and Wrist Fractures

Causes

Ankle fractures generally occur as a result of excessive rolling or twisting of the ankle. This type of injury is often associated with accidents or activities such as jumping or falling, which apply sudden stress to the joint. When the joint is subjected to these forces, the bones forming the ankle joint can break, resulting in an ankle fracture.

Symptoms

With an ankle fracture, there is immediate swelling and pain around the ankle as well as impaired mobility. In some cases, blood may accumulate around the joint, a condition called hemarthrosis. In cases of severe fracture, deformity around the ankle joint is clearly visible where bone may protrude through the skin.

Types of Ankle Fractures

Ankle fractures are classified according to the location and type of ankle bone involved.

The different types of ankle fractures are:

Lateral Malleolus fracture in which the lateral malleolus, the outer part of the ankle is fractured.
Medial Malleolus fracture in which the medial malleolus, the inner part of the ankle, is fractured.
Posterior Malleolus fracture in which the posterior malleolus, the bony hump of the tibia, is fractured.
Bimalleolar fractures in which both lateral and medial malleolus bones are fractured
Trimalleolar fractures in which all three lateral, medial, and posterior bones are fractured.
Syndesmotic injury, also called a high ankle sprain, is usually not a fracture, but can be treated as a fracture.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of the ankle injury starts with a physical examination, followed by X-rays and CT scan of the injured area for a detailed view. Usually it is very difficult to differentiate a broken ankle from other conditions such as a sprain, dislocation, or tendon injury without having an X-ray of the injured ankle. In some cases, pressure is applied on the ankle and then special X-rays are taken. This procedure is called a stress test. This test is employed to check the stability of the fracture to decide if surgery is necessary or not. In complex cases, where detail evaluation of the ligaments is required an MRI scan is recommended.

Treatment

Immediately following an ankle injury and prior to seeing a doctor, you should apply ice packs and keep the foot elevated to minimize pain and swelling.

The treatment of ankle fracture depends upon the type and the stability of the fractured bone. Treatment starts with non-surgical methods, and in cases where the fracture is unstable and cannot be realigned, surgical methods are employed.

In non-surgical treatment, the ankle bone is realigned and special splints or a plaster cast is placed around the joint, for at least 2-3 weeks.

With surgical treatment, the fractured bone is accessed by making an incision over the ankle area and then specially designed plates are screwed onto the bone, to realign and stabilize the fractured parts. The incision is then sutured closed and the operated ankle is immobilized with a splint or cast.