Shoulder/Upper Arm


Clavicle Fractures

Immobilization

  • Sling and ACE wrap
  • Pin sleeve to opposite shoulder (infants) or can provide gentle “figure 8” ACE wrap around shoulders

Follow Up

  • All follow up with Ortho regardless of degree of angulation
    • Management is usually non-operative, 90-95% are shaft fractures and do fine managed conservatively, surgeon preference
  • No call to Ortho needed for any fractures unless there is at-risk skin or other anticipated problems*

*The fractures at risk are medial/proximal given the sternoclavicular joint. If risk of posterior displacement a CT scan should be considered, including a CTA for large vessel involvement. Very lateral/distal fractures can involve the AC and CC ligaments, and can required surgical intervention.

Mid-shaft clavicle fracture

https://www.orthobullets.com/pediatrics/322128/clavicle-shaft-fracture–pediatric#popup/image/115214

Shoulder Dislocations

Immobilization

  • Sling and swathe after reduction

Follow Up

  • Follow up with Sports Medicine if first dislocation
  • Follow up with Sports Medicine/Ortho if recurrent dislocation

Anterior shoulder dislocation

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/anterior-shoulder-dislocation

Proximal Humerus Fractures

Immobilization

  • Sling and Swathe or
  • Abduction Pillow if available

Follow Up

  • Follow up with Sports Medicine if first dislocation
  • Follow up with Sports Medicine/Ortho if recurrent dislocation

Also consider calling Ortho for>10 years old, >1cm separation, any rotational deformity, or intra-articular fracture

Proximal humerus fracture

https://radiopaedia.org/cases/176376

Humerus Shaft Fractures

Immobilization

  • Sling and Swathe

Follow Up

  • Follow up with Ortho
  • Call Ortho in the ED for rotational deformity

Humerus shaft fracture

https://radiopaedia.org/cases/48899

Elbow Fractures


Supracondylar Fractures of the Humerus

Type 1 Non-displaced

Immobilization

  • Long arm posterior splint

Follow Up

  • Follow up with Ortho

Types 2, 3, & 4

  • Type 2 is displaced in 1 plane
  • Type 3 is displaced in 2 or 3 planes
  • Type 4 has complete periosteal disruption

Immobilization

  • Long arm posterior splint in position of comfort

Follow Up

  • Call to Ortho, can discuss whether direct admit to Base is appropriate if at Liberty (concerns of adequate pain control from ED to admission)

Supracondylar Humerus Fracture Types

https://pemcincinnati.com/blog/fracture-fridays-monkey-bars-and-elbow-scars/

Olecranon

Immobilization

  • Long-Arm Posterior Splint (elbow in slight extension)

Follow Up

  • Follow up with Ortho
  • Call Ortho in the ED if significant displacement

Olecranon fracture

https://www.orthobullets.com/pediatrics/4010/olecranon-fractures–pediatric#popup/image/10581

Radial Head/Neck

Immobilization

  • Long-Arm Posterior Splint (elbow at 90 degrees) with sling & swathe

Follow Up

  • Follow up with Ortho
  • Call Ortho in the ED if angulated >30 degrees or any dislocation
    • GG >10 years with either angulation >10 degrees or displacement > 10% for neck fractures and >15 degrees for head fractures.

Radial head fracture

https://www.orthobullets.com/pediatrics/4011/radial-head-and-neck-fractures–pediatric

Radial neck fracture

https://www.orthobullets.com/pediatrics/4011/radial-head-and-neck-fractures–pediatric#popup/image/7441


Monteggia Fracture

Proximal ulna fracture with associated radial head dislocation

Immobilization

  • Long-Arm Posterior Splint in position of comfort

Follow Up

  • Call Ortho in the ED

Monteggia Fracture

https://www.orthobullets.com/pediatrics/4015/monteggia-fracture–pediatric?hideLeftMenu=true

Forearm Fractures


Distal Radius Buckle (Torus) Fracture

Immobilization

  • Velcro wrist splint

Follow Up

  • Follow up with Ortho to assure it isn’t a physeal fracture

Buckle Fracture

https://www.orthobullets.com/pediatrics/4014/distal-radius-fractures–pediatric

Radius & Ulna Fractures

Immobilization

  • Sugar Tong splint

Follow Up

  • Call Ortho in the ED for the following angulation:
    • In age >10 years, over 10 degrees angulation
    • The more proximal the injury, the less angulation is tolerated
    • Any rotational deformity
    • Less than 6 yrs old >20° distal metaphysis
    • Any age >10°shaft) or
    • Obvious deformity
  • Otherwise follow up with Ortho
    • 20-25 degree of flexion-extension angulation and 10 degrees of radial-ulnar deviation may remodel in younger kids (<10 years)

Both Bone Forearm Fractures


Galeazzi Fracture

Distal radius fracture with disruption of distal radioulnar joint 

Immobilization

  • Long-Arm Posterior Splint in position of comfort

Follow Up

  • Call Ortho in the ED

Galeazzi Fracture

https://upload.orthobullets.com/topic/4016/images/galeazzi.jpg

Hand Fractures


Scaphoid Fracture

Immobilization

  • Thumb spica splint

Follow Up

  • All definite or suspected follow up with Ortho

Scaphoid Fracture

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/scaphoid-fracture-summary?lang=us

First Metacarpal

Immobilization

  • Thumb spica splint

Follow Up

  • Call to Hand for any clinical deformity, any displacement, any rotational deformity, or angulation above acceptable limits
  • Otherwise follow up with Hand

First Metacarpal Fracture

Bloom, J. (2024). First (thumb) metacarpal fractures. UpToDate. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/first-thumb-metacarpal-fractures

Second Metacarpal

Acceptable angulation: Neck <20°, Shaft <10°

Immobilization

  • Radial gutter splint

Follow Up

  • Call to Hand for any clinical deformity, any displacement, any rotational deformity, or angulation above acceptable limits
  • Otherwise follow up with Hand

Second Metacarpal Fractures

Bloom, J. (2023). Metacarpal shaft fractures. UpToDate. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/metacarpal-shaft-fractures
Bloom, J. (2023). Metacarpal shaft fractures. UpToDate. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/metacarpal-shaft-fractures

Third Metacarpal

Acceptable angulation: Neck <30°, Shaft <10°

Immobilization

  • Ulnar gutter splint

Follow Up

  • Call to Hand for any clinical deformity, any displacement, any rotational deformity, or angulation above acceptable limits
  • Otherwise follow up with Hand

Third Metacarpal Fracture

https://radiopaedia.org/cases/3rd-metacarpal-fracture-2

Fourth Metacarpal

Acceptable angulation: Neck <40°, Shaft <20°

Immobilization

  • Ulnar gutter splint

Follow Up

  • Call to Hand for any clinical deformity, any displacement, any rotational deformity, or angulation above acceptable limits
  • Otherwise follow up with Hand

Fourth Metacarpal Fracture

Bloom, J. (2023). Metacarpal shaft fractures. UpToDate. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/metacarpal-shaft-fractures

Fifth Metacarpal

Acceptable angulation: Neck <50°, Shaft <30°

Immobilization

  • Thumb spica splint

Follow Up

  • Call to Hand for any clinical deformity, any displacement, any rotational deformity, or angulation above acceptable limits
  • Otherwise follow up with Hand

Fifth Metacarpal Fracture


Finger Fractures


Phalangeal Neck Fracture

Any Finger

Immobilization

  • Appropriate splint for the affected finger

Follow Up

  • Call to Hand for any angulation, clinical deformity, especially rotational, or displacement


Thumb Fractures

Immobilization

  • Thumb spica splint or cast

Follow Up

  • Call to Hand for any rotational or angular deformity


Phalanx Fracture

First through fifth digits

Immobilization

  • Appropriate splint for the affected finger
    • Radial gutter for index/long
    • Ulnar gutter for ring/small)
    • Buddy Taping as indicated  

Follow Up

  • Call to Hand
    • Any rotational or angular deformity
    • Open fracture EXCEPT tuft
  • Follow up with Hand:
    7-10 days for tuft and buckle fx
    All other injuries, 3-7 day