When the radius breaks near the wrist, it is called a distal radius fracture. The break usually happens due to falling on an outstretched or flexed hand. It can also happen in a car accident, a bike accident, a skiing accident or another sports activity. A distal radius fracture can be isolated, which means no other fractures are involved.
What You Need to Know
You have sustained an un-displaced fracture to your greater tuberosity of your shoulder. The shoulder is a ball and socket joint you have fractured the outside of the ball part. This normally takes between 6-12 weeks to unite (heal).
The greater tuberosity is the prominent area of bone at the top of the humerus and is the attachment for the two large, powerful rotator cuff muscles - supraspinatus and infraspinatus.
The greater tubercle of the humerus is situated lateral to the head of the humerus and posterolateral to the lesser tubercle.
The greater tuberosity is the bony bump in the shoulder area that is located laterally on the humerus. The humerus or arm bone, is the bone located between the elbow and the shoulder. Fractures to the greater tuberosity is common and unfortunately can interfere with a person's rotator cuff.
Tubercle vs tuberosity A tubercle is a small rounded prominence, often a site of tendon or ligament attachment e.g. adductor tubercle of the femur. A tuberosity is larger, found in varying shapes and often rough in texture.
a rounded prominenceDefinition of tuberosity : a rounded prominence especially : a large prominence on a bone usually serving for the attachment of muscles or ligaments.
The greater tuberosity it is located lateral to the head. The lesser tuberosity is located inferior to the head, on the anterior part of the humerus, Its very prominent and palpable. Bicipital (intertubercular) groove is located between the two tuberosities. The Biceps tendon is placed here.
Lesser Tubercle - a smaller bony knob that sits just medial (closer to the midline) and anterior (in front of) to the greater tubercle. This is the insertion point for the only muscle of the rotator cuff that doesn't insert on the greater tubercle. Crest of greater tubercle - Crest is a Latin term meaning ridge.
Fractures of the Greater Tuberosity Causes These fractures occur as the result of a fall where someone lands directly on the side of their shoulder or lands with their arm outstretched. It might fracture alone or in combination with other injuries of the shoulder joint.
This is a break to the top of your upper arm bone. Page 2. Updated 9th June 2021. Remember to use your sling for the first 6 weeks, including in bed at night.
The fracture is completely un-displaced (the bone has not moved), this means you do not need a routine follow up appointment. You have however been referred to your local physiotherapy service for rehabilitation to start approximately 3 weeks after your injury.
In these cases, surgical treatment is recommended. Multiple surgical techniques include open and arthroscopic options tailored to fracture morphology, and strategies for repair include the use of suture anchors, transosseous sutures, tension bands, and plates/screws.