I Broke my Humerus! Do I Need Surgery?

Proximal humerus fractures are a type of break of the upper bone of the arm that occurs near the shoulder. Because of special cartilage areas near the end of each bone called growth plates, kids have a remarkable ability to grow and heal their bones. In a study looking at proximal humerus fractures in kids 10–16 years old, doctors compared the outcomes of kids whose proximal humerus fractures were repaired with surgery with those who did not have surgery. We learned that by 6 months after the injury, there was no difference in pain, movement, function, or mood between kids who received surgery and those who did not. This is an exciting discovery that means in kids whose growth plates are still open, it is possible to avoid the risks associated with surgery and heal proximal humerus fractures without operating.