Friday, November 21, 2008

Physiotherapy Treatment of Shoulder Fractures

Humeral fractures occur together with up to five percent of all fractures fall into this category, eighty percent of humeral fractures are minimally displaced or undisplaced. Osteoporosis is a factor in many of these fractures and a fracture of the forearm on the same page is a typical presentation. Nerve or arterial damage caused by the rupture is an important aspect, but not usual. Typical sites of fractures are the top of the arm (neck of the humerus - "shoulder fracture) and the center of the shaft of the humerus.

The usual cause of a humeral fracture is a direct fall on the arm, either on the hand, elbow or directly on the shoulder itself. Because of all the muscles that at the upper humerus, it may be a lot of muscular force at the time, dictate how much the bones pulled into a position. Humeral fractures are more frequent in elderly patients with an average age of fracture of around 65 years and younger people usually have a history of powerful trauma such as traffic accidents or sports.

If the fracture occurred without any significant force then a pathological causes such as cancer must be suspected. Physiotherapy on pains examination occur, on the movements of the shoulder or elbow, there may be extensive swelling and bruising, the arm May appear briefly when the fracture is displaced shaft fractures, and it is very restricted shoulder movement. Radial nerve damage is rare in the upper humeral fractures, but more often in fractures of the shaft, leading to "drop wrist", weakness of the wrist and fingers and thumbs Extensor some movements.

Management of Humeral Fractures

After the break, the patient movements are restricted and adequate analgesia, which they comfortably. With little or no shift in the administration is non-operational, but if the greater tuberosity is broken, then it is important that the suspected rotator cuff injuries. This is more common in injuries with high forces if the patient is older or displaced tuberosity is clear. Humeral neck fractures can be kept in line with a collar and cuffs, so that the elbow to hang freely, while the shaft fractures are difficult to manage, but can be braced.

open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) is often used for displaced fractures with three or four fragments and more common in younger patients, while older patients have humeral head replacement to prevent pain and stiffness in the shoulder. Nailing or plating is shaft fractures, if necessary, but these usually heal without surgery. Humeral fractures can be complications, including injury to the radial nerve in the shaft fractures, frozen shoulder and death of the humeral head due to loss of blood supply. Although normal healing time is 6-8 weeks, elderly patients May never again a normal range of shoulder motion.

shoulder fracture treatment by physiotherapy

physiotherapy initially rated the arm, asking patients about their pain level, as this very differently, the audit of the swelling and bruising of the arm. The physiotherapist will examine the available range of motion of the shoulder, elbow, hand and forearm. Each muscle weakness and sensory loss is noted, since this May indicate nerve damage. This is not the case surgery, a Sling continues with, and if the fracture is not too painful or severe, early exercises by the physiotherapist. Pendulum exercises with the patient bending at the waist, are important in the early stages, since it the movements of the shoulder joint without much force.

Three weeks after breaking bone is healing well, so that the physiotherapist will instruct the patients, in auto-assisted exercises, with the other arm, to reduce the burden on the injury. Without assistance exercises are the next step, as the arm is stronger, in practice, lateral and medial rotation and flexion. In six weeks, the bones are clinically sound, so that physiotherapy can progress to more vigorous movements with gentle resistance and end-field stretching. Joint mobilizations can be useful to rid the sliding and gliding movements of the joint and strengthening the joint work and continued with a range of Thera band.

Jonathan Blood Smyth is a Superintendent Physiotherapist at an NHS hospital in the South-West of the UK. He specialises in orthopaedic conditions and looking after joint replacements as well as managing chronic pain. Visit the website he edits if you are looking for physiotherapists in London.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Blood-Smyth

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