Shoulder Fracture
A shoulder fracture is a broken bone in your shoulder. It may or may not need surgery, depending on the cause and severity of the break.
What is a shoulder fracture?
A shoulder fracture is another term for a broken bone in your shoulder.
There are 3 types of shoulder fractures. The type is defined by which of the 3 bones in your shoulder joint is broken. It’s possible to break the top of your humerus (the bone in your upper arm between your shoulder and elbow), your scapula (your shoulder blade), or your clavicle (your collarbone). If the bone breaks through your skin, it’s known as an open fracture. Otherwise, it’s a closed fracture.
At Welbeck, leading experts in our state-of-the-art Orthopaedics centre diagnose and treat shoulder fractures. Depending on the severity of your fracture, where it is, and what caused it, it may be able to heal on its own. However, some people need physiotherapy and/or surgery.
Paediatrics
We offer appointments to paediatric patients aged 12 to 18. For full information on our paediatrics service, please visit our main Paediatrics page.
More information
If you have a fractured shoulder, you may experience:
shoulder pain
swelling
tenderness
bruising around your arm extending towards your elbow
stiffness
difficulty moving or using your arm or shoulder
a bump that’s not usually there
Almost every shoulder fracture is caused by trauma through an injury that involves a lot of force. The most common types of injuries to cause shoulder fractures are:
falls
sports
car or bike accidents
Risk factors
Anyone can fracture their shoulder, but this injury is most common in:
over 65s who experience falls
people who have osteoporosis (a condition that weakens bones)
children and teens who play contact sports
At Welbeck, you’ll have an initial consultation with one of our expert orthopaedic surgeons. They’ll ask you about your symptoms, how and when your injury happened, your medical history, and will conduct a physical examination of your shoulder.
You’ll also need to undergo 1 or more other tests, including:
X-ray
MRI scan
CT scan
The results of your tests will help your consultant determine which of your bones is fractured, if it’s displaced (if there’s a gap around the break), and how severe the break is. They’ll use this information to create a personalised and effective treatment plan for you.
ou can reduce your risk of experiencing a shoulder fracture, but it’s not guaranteed that you can prevent it from happening.
Improve your bone health
To reduce your risk of osteoporosis, which makes bones break more easily:
eat a healthy and balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D
limit your alcohol intake
don’t smoke
build your bone density with regular weight-bearing, resistance, and muscle-strengthening exercises
Reduce your injury risk
To minimise your risk of falls, accidents, or sports injuries:
wear protective gear when you play sports or exercise
wear a seatbelt every time you take a car journey
wear shoes and slippers that fit you well
use tools to help you reach items in your home
use a non-slip mat in your shower or bath
use a walking aid if you’re unstable on your feet
It’s important to get a shoulder fracture treated properly. An untreated shoulder fracture can lead to long-term pain and disability.
Even with the best possible treatment, you may lose a mild degree of shoulder function and be left with some permanent stiffness long-term.
If you have an open fracture, there’s a risk of bone infections. And, rarely, an injury can also damage your muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and other parts of your shoulder.
If the fracture isn’t too severe, your consultant will try to treat your fracture without surgery. You’ll usually need to use a sling or brace for about 4 weeks. After 2 weeks, you’ll start gentle physiotherapy to get your shoulder moving and aid your recovery. During the recovery process, you’ll have regular X-rays taken to check how your shoulder is healing.
However, if your shoulder is too badly damaged to heal on its own, you may need an operation to bring the pieces of displaced bone together with pins, plates or screws. In the most severe cases, a shoulder replacement may be required.
Once your consultant has run tests, they’ll discuss your options and treatment plan with you.
At Welbeck, our orthopaedic surgeons are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.
With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
Get in touch today to book an appointment.
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Frequently asked questions
If you need to have a shoulder replacement, your consultant will remove some or all of your damaged shoulder joint. They’ll then replace it with an artificial joint made from metal or plastic.
Your recovery timeline depends on your initial injury, the severity of the break, and which treatment you need. It could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for you to make a full recovery.
Fractures are less common than other shoulder injuries, including dislocations. For children and teenagers, clavicle fractures are the most common. Humerus fractures are the most common in people over 65. Scapula fractures are rare.
There usually aren’t any symptoms, so you may not know you have osteoporosis until you experience a broken bone.