Humerus Fracture

Basics

Proximal humeral fractures:
- Typically described as nondisplaced, displaced, or fracture/dislocation
- Increased incidence with age
- 2:1 female to male ratio
- 3rd most common nonvertebral osteoporotic fracture, after hip and distal radius fractures
- Neer classification: A system that identifies the location, number of fragments, displacement, and angulation of the fracture or fracture/dislocation
Humeral shaft fractures:
- Account for <3% of fractures
- 60% in patients older than 50 yr
- May be spiral, oblique, or transverse
- Bimodal age distribution
- Humeral shaft fractures (AO classification):
  - Simple
  - Wedge
  - Comminuted (complex)
Distal humerus fractures:
- 2% of all fractures, 30% of elbow fractures
- See Elbow Injuries

Proximal humerus fractures:
- Most common history of elderly low-energy fall
- Less commonly high-energy trauma or violent muscle contraction from shock/seizure
Humeral shaft fractures:
- High-energy direct trauma (penetrating or blunt) or bending force
- Less common from fall
- Stress fractures from throwing injury

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