Fractures of the Humerus from Muscular Violence

Accepted 15.x.71According to the literature, fractures of the shafts of long bones due to muscular violence alone are uncommon.There are reports from the United States, Finland and Germany of fractures of the shaft of the humerus sustained while throwing the javelin, the baseball or hand grenades (Bingham 1959, Clemmons & Hammond 1947, Heiss 1960, Herzmark & Klune 1952, Krainz 1939, Peltokallio 1968).The aetiology of these fractures has been in doubt.Most authors attribute them to violent uncoordinated muscular action on the bone, but some believe that they are just due to stress ( B ~j e 1942, Petersen 1970).The following four cases are described as further examples of fractures caused by throwing.