A broken arm is a common injury. Counting all fractures, about one in every 20 involve the upper arm bone (humerus). Children are more likely to break the lower arm bones (radius and ulna).

Causes
Falling on an outstretched hand, being in a car crash or some other type of accident are the most common causes of a broken arm.

Symptoms
Most people know right away if their arm broken, because there may be a snap or a loud cracking sound. The broken arm may appear deformed and be swollen, bruised and bleeding. A person with a broken arm usually has extreme pain at the site of the injury which is intensified by any movement, and loss of normal use of the arm.

Treatment
Special care needs to be taken before you ever get to the physician. If a broken bone sticks out from the skin (open fracture), do not try to push it back in. Use a clean, dry cloth or bandage to cover it until medical help arrives. It is important that the injured person not try to use the broken arm. Moving a broken arm would also cause more damage to blood vessels, nerves and other tissues. To immobilize a broken arm, make a temporary splint that extends above and below the site of the injury. You can use wood or rolled up magazines, making sure both ends of the splint extend far beyond the injured region. You can use cloth, belts or tape to fasten the splint. Avoid any constriction of the arm with the supporting strap. In addition, make a sling to stabilize the injury and support the splint. A broken arm sling can be as simple as a loop of cloth supported from the neck.

Your doctor may need to move pieces of bone back into their correct positions (a process called reduction). Depending upon the severity of injury, the patient may or may not need anesthesia. Those with more serious fractures may require surgery. With the broken bone back in place, the doctor immobilizes the arm. Most patients get a cast or splint. The doctor tells the patient how long to wear the cast or splint, and removes it at the right time. It may take from several weeks to several months for the broken arm to heal completely.