How long does a broken shoulder take to heal

Q: How long do you have to wear a sling for a broken shoulder?

If you dont need surgery you will wear a sling at first to help keep your arm still to let the fracture start to heal and the callus start to form. How long you wear the sling may be slightly different depending on your injury but most fractures mean you will need to wear a sling for 3 to 4 weeks.

Trauma to the shoulder is common with injuries resulting from falls, high speed car accidents or sports. Most shoulder fractures involve the clavicle (collar bone) or proximal humerus (top of the upper arm bone) and less commonly, the scapula (shoulder blade), which is more difficult to break and often associated with chest injuries.

Table of Contents Show

Symptoms of Shoulder Fractures
Common Shoulder Reconstruction Procedures & Treatments
Non-surgical treatment for fractured shoulders
Surgical options for broken shoulders
What should I discuss with my orthopaedic surgeon?
What is the fastest way to heal a broken shoulder?
Is a broken shoulder serious?
How long do you have to wear a sling for a broken shoulder?
How painful is a broken shoulder?

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Symptoms of Shoulder Fractures

While many fractures are a result of high force impact or stress, bone fractures can also be caused by medical conditions such as osteoporosis.

Broken bones and minor injuries can often be successfully treated without orthopaedic surgery, however injuries with significant deformity or associated skeletal instability are better treated with surgery to ensure the bones heal in the correct position and reduce the risk of future complications.

In nearly 80 percent of shoulder fractures, the broken bones remain near their anatomic position (non displaced), therefore immobilisation in a sling or shoulder immobiliser is the best treatment, and heal within about six weeks.

The other 20 percent of shoulder fractures are displaced and may require some type of manipulation or surgery to restore the bone to the correct anatomical position.

Often the rotator cuff muscles are injured or torn at the same time as the fracture, which can further complicate treatment.

Proximal Humerus Fracture

Severely swollen shoulder
Very limited shoulder range of motion
Severe shoulder pain

Clavicle Fracture

Shoulder pain, swelling and bruising over the collarbone area
A visual bump – the bone fracture under the skin
Limited shoulder range of motion
Shoulder may be slumped downward or forward
Possible grinding when you try to raise your arm

Scapula Fracture

Pain
Swelling
Severe bruising around the shoulder blade
Decreased range of motion of the joint
Inability to straighten the arm

Numbness, tingling or coldness of the hand and forearm can occur if blood supply is impaired or nerves have been injured
Popping or cracking sound can often be heard or felt at the time of the fracture

Common Shoulder Reconstruction Procedures & Treatments

Non-surgical treatment for fractured shoulders

Immobilisation:
Most fractures can be healed with immobilisation in a sling for about 6 weeks.
X-rays will be used to determine whether the fracture has healed sufficiently to permit motion exercises.

While your shoulder has been immobilised, it is important to maintain flexibility of your elbow, wrist and fingers. Dr McLean will advise when you should commence shoulder exercises.

Surgical options for broken shoulders

Surgical treatment methods include:

Plating (plates, rods or screws)
This animation shows the process of inserting a plate in an upper arm (humerus head) fracture (https://www.orthoillustrated.com/animation/30-proximal-humerus-fracture-repair-with-arthrex-sutureplate)
Wiring
External fixation (external frame)

Many shoulder surgery procedures can be performed minimally invasively with shoulder arthroscopy; however sometimes larger incisions are necessary to allow good visualisation of the injury.

Some fractures are not suitable for repair or fixation and alternative procedures may be required such as replacement, excision or fusion.

Most shoulder injuries whether treated surgically or non-surgically can affect arm mobility for several weeks or even months. Physiotherapy is recommended to decrease stiffness, improve range of motion and help you regain muscle strength.

Shoulder

Elbow

Wrist

Hand

What should I discuss with my orthopaedic surgeon?

Dr James McLean will discuss the following during your consultation:

The type of injury
Severity of the injury
Treatment options
Possible complications

Whether surgery is necessary
Length of recovery time after shoulder surgery
Short and long-term expected outcome

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

How Dr James McLean can help

Dr James McLean has extensive upper limb experience, including soft tissue and bone injuries. He will work with you to develop a treatment plan that will have the best possible outcome for your shoulder injury.

What is the fastest way to heal a broken shoulder?

Shoulder Fracture Treatment Options.

Icing..

Immobilization with an arm sling or wrap while bones heal..

Oral medications to help alleviate pain..

Physical therapy and range-of-motion exercises (to begin once the bones have started to heal and under the close supervision of a physical therapist).

Is a broken shoulder serious?

A fractured shoulder is a medical emergency. Some shoulder fractures require surgery to allow the shoulder to heal properly. If surgery is not necessary, a doctor will fit you with a shoulder fracture sling. The sling will stabilize your arm and help keep the bones aligned for proper healing.

How long do you have to wear a sling for a broken shoulder?

If you don't need surgery you will wear a sling at first to help keep your arm still to let the fracture start to heal and the callus start to form. How long you wear the sling may be slightly different depending on your injury but most fractures mean you will need to wear a sling for 3 to 4 weeks.

How painful is a broken shoulder?

Pain, swelling, and bruising may occur around a fractured shoulder blade. You'll find it very painful to move the arm in any way, and to lift it will be impossible. Other symptoms include difficulty breathing due to movement of the chest wall with each breath.