How to Treat a Broken Arm

Hand fractures are common injuries in both young children and the elderly. You can break one of the three bones that make up your arm: the humerus (humerus), the ulna (ulna), or the radial bone (radius). ^{[1] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} To heal a broken arm, you need to treat the fracture quickly, seek medical attention, and rest for a while to heal.

Table of Contents

Receiving treatment

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Assess situation. Depending on the severity of the fracture, you can call 911 or go to the hospital. Taking a minute to assess the situation before choosing a course of action can help prevent further damage.

You’re more likely to break your arm if you hear a “click” or “crack” sound. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Other signs of a broken arm are severe pain, pain that may increase with movement, swelling, bruising, arm deformity, and difficulty turning the hand over or over. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Call 911 or go to the hospital as soon as possible if you notice the following signs: ^{[4] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} Victim is unresponsive, not breathing or moving; profuse bleeding; even light pressure or light movement causes pain; numbness of the extremity where the fracture (such as the fingers) or fingertips is bruised; you suspect a broken bone in your neck, head, or back; if the bone protrudes from the skin; or deformed arm.
If you can’t access emergency services, you can check out the wikiHow “How to give first aid for a broken bone” article:.

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Stop bleeding. If the fracture is causing bleeding, it is important to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. Use a bandage, cloth, or clean clothing to gently press the bleeding site. ^{[5] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Be sure to call 911 or go to the hospital if bleeding occurs. ^{[6] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Avoid rearranging bones. If the bone is protruding or deformed, you should not under any circumstances reposition the bone. Going to the doctor and immobilizing your arm can both prevent further damage and ease your discomfort. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Trying to realign the bone can cause additional pain and damage, and potentially lead to infection. ^{[8] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Fix the broken arm. It is extremely important to make sure the movement does not further damage the broken arm. Place a splint above and below the fracture to keep it in place until you get medical attention. ^{[9] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

You can use a variety of objects to make the brace, such as newspaper or rolled up towels. Use duct tape or wrap around the arm to secure the splint. ^{[10] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Cushioning the splint can help reduce discomfort. ^{[11] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Apply cold packs or ice to reduce pain and swelling. Wrap ice in a towel or cloth and apply it to the fracture. This can help reduce pain and swelling until you get to your doctor. ^{[12] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Do not place the ice pack directly on the skin as it may cause frostbite. ^{[13] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the source} Wrap ice packs in a towel or cloth to prevent frostbite. ^{[14] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Apply ice in batches every 20 minutes until you can get to the doctor or hospital.

Struggling in daily activities

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Remember the RICE principle. The important thing to remember in daily activities is the RICE principle (Rest – rest, Ice – ice, Compression – compression, Elevation – raise). Following the RICE principle can make your life easier and more comfortable. ^{[21] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Let your arms rest. Give your arm a chance to rest. During the day Immobilization can help the arm fully recover and may also prevent pain or discomfort. ^{[22] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Apply ice. Applying an ice pack to the broken arm can help reduce swelling and ease pain. ^{[23] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Apply ice as needed, 20 minutes each time. ^{[24] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Wrap the ice pack in a towel to keep the outside powder from getting wet.
Remove the ice pack if it is too cold or the skin is numb. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

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Bandage the injured area. Wrap the arm with a gauze or elastic bandage. This helps reduce swelling and can also ease pain. ^{[26] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Swelling can lead to loss of mobility, and compression can help prevent it.
Use a compression bandage until the swelling is gone or as advised by your doctor.
You can buy compression bandages at any drugstore or medical device store.

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Keep your arms above heart level. Elevating the arm above heart level can limit swelling and maintain movement. ^{[27] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

If you can’t raise your arm, you can rest your hand on a stack of pillows or on an object.

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Do not wet the outer layer of powder. You can easily avoid swimming or soaking in hot water, but showering or bathing can be a bit difficult to avoid while your arm heals. When showering or bathing (you can try a cleansing bath), it’s important not to get the arm wrap wet. This helps the arm heal and ensures there is no skin infection or irritation.

You can wrap your cast arm in a thick plastic bag, such as a garbage bag or even cling film. Make sure to cover the entire layer of powder firmly.
You can also wrap a towel over the dough to prevent water from seeping in. Not only will this protect the powder, but it will also help prevent skin irritation or infection.
In case if the powder layer is wet, you can use a hair dryer to dry it. This way the powder layer can remain intact. If the powder becomes soggy, call your doctor and ask how to handle it.

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Wear appropriate clothing. Dressing a broken arm can be very difficult. You should choose appropriate clothing that is easy to put your hands on without causing discomfort.

Wear loose clothing with wide sleeves. Short-sleeved tops or tank tops may be easier to wear.
If it’s cold, you can put a sweater over the shoulder with the sore arm. Arms hidden inside the sweater will stay warm.
If you want to wear gloves but can’t get into your hands, try covering your hands with socks.

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Use the other arm and hand. If the broken hand is dominant, use the other hand as much as possible. It may take some getting used to, but it will help you become less dependent.

You can learn to brush your teeth, comb your hair, or use kitchen utensils with your non-dominant hand.

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Thanks to everyone for help. There are some activities you will find difficult to do alone with a broken arm. You can ask a friend or loved one for help when your arm is immobile.

Ask a friend to take notes in class or type a document. You can also ask the teacher if the lecture can be recorded.
You’ll find that strangers can also offer help when you’ve broken your arm, from carrying your grocery bag to keeping the door open for you. Take advantage of such opportunities to give your arms a rest.
Avoid complicated operations. Some activities like driving can be difficult to do with a broken arm. You can hitchhike a friend or relative, or use public transport.

Accelerate the healing process

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Limit movement. The more immobile the arm, the better for the healing process. Whether you’re in a cast or just using a sling, try to avoid a lot of movement or bumping into things. ^{[28] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

This is especially important if you’ve broken your arm and your doctor is waiting for your hand to ease into a cast. ^{[29] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
You may need to wait a few weeks to return to your normal activities until your doctor gives you permission. ^{[30] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Take medicine to relieve pain and discomfort. You may have a little or a terrible pain when you break your arm. Pain relievers can help you relax and not move your hands too much. ^{[31] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or acetaminophen. Ibuprofen and naproxen sodium can also help reduce swelling. ^{[32] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Children and adolescents under 18 years of age should not take aspirin unless authorized by their doctor. ^{[33] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
You should also avoid taking aspirin and other medications that can thin your blood if a broken bone breaks your skin or bleeds.
If you have a lot of pain, your doctor may prescribe a narcotic pain reliever (narcotic) for a few days. ^{[34] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Go to rehabilitation or physical therapy. In many cases, rehabilitation therapy can begin fairly soon after initial treatment. ^{[35] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to the source} You can start with simple movements to reduce stiffness, and gradually build up to physical therapy as you have your cast and splint removed. or strap. ^{[36] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Rehabilitation exercises only under the permission and guidance of your doctor. ^{[37] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Early rehabilitation treatment may include simple movements to promote blood circulation and help relieve stiffness. ^{[38] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Physical therapy can help you restore muscle strength, joint mobility, and flexibility when you’ve had your cast removed or recovered from surgery. ^{[39] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

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Surgery for severe broken arm. You may need surgery if your arm is complicated or broken. Surgery can help make sure your arm heals properly and reduce the risk of a fracture. ^{[40] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

During surgery, your doctor may place immobilizers to stabilize the bone. Bone immobilizers include nails, screws, metal foil, and wire. ^{[41] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} These devices help keep bones in place during recovery.
During the surgery, you will be given local anesthesia while the doctor places the immobilizer. ^{[42] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Recovery time often depends on the severity and how you care for your broken arm.
You may need physical therapy to restore muscle strength, flexibility, and range of motion in your joints after surgery.

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Eat foods that help build strong bones. A diet that includes foods rich in calcium and vitamin D can help strengthen bones. This will also provide the nutrients needed to rebuild the bones of the arm and prevent fractures. ^{[43] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Calcium and vitamin D can combine to help strengthen bones. ^{[44] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Rich sources of calcium include milk, spinach, soybeans, kale, cheese, and yogurt. ^{[45] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
You can take calcium supplements if your diet doesn’t provide enough calcium, but you should still try to get as much calcium from whole foods as possible.
Good sources of vitamin D include salmon, tuna, beef liver and egg yolks. ^{[46] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}
Like calcium, you can take vitamin D supplements to add to your diet.
Consider foods fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Many juices such as grapes or oranges can contain calcium or vitamin D. Some dairy products are also fortified with vitamin D. ^{[47] X Source reliable Mayo Clinic Go to source}

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Do resistance exercises to help build strong bones. Although most people think of muscles when working out, bones actually respond to exercise too. ^{[48]X Source of Study} People who exercise often have higher bone density than those who don’t, ^{[49] X Source of further research} that exercise also helps with balance and coordination , which can help prevent falls and accidents. ^{[50] X Research Source}

Try weight training, walking, hiking, jogging, stair climbing, tennis, and dancing to maintain and strengthen your bones. ^{[51] X Research Source}
Be sure to consult your doctor before starting an exercise program, especially if you have osteoporosis. ^{[52] X Research Source}

Advice

Always wear protective gear when playing sports or participating in activities such as cycling, rollerblading, etc… ^{[53] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source}

Steps

Receiving treatment

Struggling in daily activities

Accelerate the healing process

Advice

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