Three bones come together to fix the shoulder: the arm bone (the Humerus), the collarbone (the Clavicle) and the shoulder blade (the Scapula at the Glenoid). The shoulder joint is shaped over these bones, so when a person sustains a shoulder crack, any one of these bones may be damaged.
Defining the best behavior depends on the precise damage.
Hereunder we will expose the different kinds of shoulder cracks and how we should behave accordingly.
- Humerus Cracks
A Humerus crack called proximal Humerus fracture is a damage to the top of the arm bone (the Humerus) that shape the ball of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint.
Proximal humerus cracks can happen to young patients following to a traumatic hurt, as it may happen to elderly persons following to an osteoporosis.
Proximal Humerus cracks occur in several kinds, and behavior can scale from a simple hanging, to a shoulder switching operation.
Consequently, it is vital to discuss with the orthopedic specialist the precise expectations about the shoulder function so that patient can find the best behavior choice.
- Clavicle Cracks
Clavicle cracks are the most common kind of shoulder crack, and like the proximal Humerus fracture, it may occur in a broad range of ages as well (from newborn to elderly age).
Note that the massive majority of clavicle cracks are behaved simply with relaxation and eventually the use of hanging, however there are some cracks that may necessitate more violent surgical behavior.
Glenoid Cracks
To know that the Glenoid is the socket of the shoulder joint, and is part of the shoulder blade (scapula).
Cracks of the Glenoidare relatively rare and may be related to the shoulder dislocation.
Frequently a Glenoid crack leads to persistent shoulder unsteadiness if kept unprocessed.
- Scapular Cracks
The scapula or the shoulder blade is a wide and thin bone that shape the socket of the ball-and-socket shoulder joint (what we have called the Glenoid).
The shoulder blade (scapula) is mandatory for normal shoulder motion, since this scapula is responsible of about 1/3 of the normal shoulder motion, (the other 2/3 is the role of the ball-and-socket).
Scapular cracks occurs frequently with important trauma.
Note that because its location, when the shoulder blade is damaged, persons who suffer from a scapular crack should be assessed for related chest damages.
Crack/Disarticulations
A Crack/Disarticulation happens when there we found both a broken bone with a disarticulation of the joint.
The most common kind of Crack/Disarticulation occurs with shoulder dislocations following a combined damage with the ball of the ball-and-socket as well and which is called a Hill-Sachs injury.
Other kinds of cracks can happen with shoulder disarticulations including a displaced proximal Humerus cracks and Glenoid rim cracks. The frequent subject with all of these damages is that shoulder unsteadiness may happen if the crack recovers in a wrong or weak position.
Shoulder Cracks Behavior
When a person is exposed to a bone damage around the shoulder joint, a physician should assess him.
Signs of shoulder cracks may comprise:
- Staining around the shoulder (the shoulder may swing down the arm over time)
- Swelling of the shoulder and arm
- Pain at a simple shoulder movement
- Irregularity of the joint
If these symptoms arise, an x-ray will likely be advised to define the kind and the severity of the damage.
If the degree of the damage is not clear, additional exams may be needed to help evaluating the situation.
To conclude
Shoulder cracks Behavior is quite flexible ranging from simple immobilization to complicated surgical processes.
Patient should discuss behavior choices with his doctor who can advise on the pros and cons of diverse approaches of behavior.