Humerus fracture Humerus fracture A humerus fracture is a break of the humerus bone in the upper arm. Symptoms are pain, swelling, and discoloration of the skin at the site of the fracture. Bruising appears a few days after the fracture. The neurovascular bundle of the arm may be affected in severe cases, which will cause loss of nerve function and diminished blood supply beneath the fracture. Proximal and distal fractures will often cause a loss of shoulder or elbow function. Displaced shaft and distal fractures may cause deformity, and such shaft fractures will often shorten the length of the upper arm.
Upper extremity of humerus is an indentation distal to the head of the humerus on which the articular capsule attaches. The greater tubercle ("tuberculum majus"; greater tuberosity) is situated lateral to the head and lesser tubercle, and just lateral to the anatomical neck. Its upper surface is rounded and marked by three flat impressions: the highest of these gives insertion to the supraspinatus muscle; the middle to the infraspinatus muscle; the lowest one, and the body of the bone for about 2.5 cm. below it, to the teres minor muscle. The lateral surface of the greater tubercle is convex, rough, and continuous with the