Shoulder and Arm Fracture Surgeon
Have you experienced a serious fall, forceful collision or car accident? Proximal humerus fractures occur at the top of the long arm bone, near the shoulder and can cause extreme pain and tissue damage. Fractures of this nature are most often caused by trauma and usually require surgery. Shoulder and arm fracture surgeon, Dr. James Mazzara provides diagnosis and surgical treatment options for patients in Manchester, South Windsor, Enfield, Glastonbury and surrounding Hartford communities who have sustained a proximal humerus fracture. Contact Dr. Mazzara’s team today!
What is Proximal Humerus Fracture Fixation?
This surgical procedure repairs a break in the proximal (top portion) of the humerus (arm bone.) The procedure is sometimes referred to as ORIF surgery, meaning Open Reduction Internal Fixation. Open reduction means the doctor makes an incision (cut) to reach the bones of the shoulder joint and moves them back into their normal position. Proximal humerus fracture fixation or internal fixation means metal screws, plates, sutures, or rods are placed on the bone to keep it in place while it heals. Dr. James Mazzara, shoulder surgeon is very skilled at performing proximal humerus fracture fixation for patients in Manchester, South Windsor, Enfield, Glastonbury and surrounding Hartford communities.
What causes a proximal humerus fracture?
Fractures of the proximal humerus are usually the result of trauma. A serious fall, forceful collision or car accident can all cause a proximal humerus fracture. The position of the arm and body at the time of trauma will determine how the arm bone fractures and if there is an accompanied dislocation. Since this type of broken bone is usually caused by an accident, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is often an emergency surgery. The length of surgery will depend upon the severity of the break, the age of the patient and other damage to the shoulder joint. Proximal humerus fractures often involve other injuries such as soft tissue damage, torn cartilage or accompanying bone fractures.
What is the recovery time after proximal humerus fracture fixation?
An isolated humerus fracture may be repaired as an out-patient procedure at the ambulatory surgery center allowing patients to go home the same day. Depending on the complexity of the damage to the shoulder, patients can sometimes spend several days in the hospital. Pain medicine is prescribed as well as antibiotics and other medicines to help with recovery. Patients will receive physical therapy 3-4 weeks after surgery to help restore the shoulder to full range of motion and work load. A humerus fracture commonly takes 8-12 weeks to fully heal. In some cases, it may take many months to recover maximum motion and function.
For further information on a proximal humerus fracture fixation or ORIF procedure, please contact the office of Dr. James Mazzara, orthopedic shoulder surgeon in Manchester, South Windsor, Enfield, Glastonbury and surrounding Hartford communities.