Shoulder Fractures
Fractures of the shoulder are usually through the neck of the humeral head and are a sign of osteoporosis. Typically they are the result of a fall in the elderly. Depending on the force involved there may be additional fracture lines that involve the tuberosities of the humeral head which are the sites of insertion of the rotator cuff. The greater tuberosity is the insertion/attachment of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons. The lesser tuberosity is the insertion/attachment for the subscapularis tendon. Most fractures of the humeral neck are treated with a sling and after about 3-4 weeks when it is clear that further displacement will not occur, physiotherapy can be started to mobilise the shoulder whilst the fracture heals. If the fracture is displaced into an unacceptable position then surgery is usually performed to internally fix the fracture or to replace the humeral head with a shoulder replacement. The type of surgical procedure is still a controversial topic.
