The humerus is one of the three bones that form the elbow joint, along with the radius and ulna. Together, they bend and straighten like a hinge. At the elbow level there are three bone areas:

•The distal humerus that is located in the central part of the elbow, the area also known as the hinge
•The radial head, which helps to move the distal humerus and rotates every time the wrist is up or down, that is, in supination or pronation
•The olecranon is the portion of the ulna that is at the end of the humerus and is the sharpest portion at the elbow level.
At the proximal end, the humerus forms the shoulder joint also called the scapular-humeral joint, made of the humeral head that has a spherical, smooth shape and of the scapula (shoulder blade).

The humerus fracture is just a type of elbow fracture, the three bones that form the elbow joint can fracture in different ways, namely:

➢ direct fractures can occur in 2 ways, namely: by a direct blow, occurring during a fall for example or by hitting with a hard object.
➢ indirect fractures can occur when a person falls/lands on the arms stretched in front with the elbows locked in the straight position. Thus, the ulna ends up being pushed into the humerus and causes it to break.

1. If the fracture is not displaced, orthotics or splints can be used to immobilize the elbow in the appropriate position throughout the healing process. The healing process will be monitored by a specialist and will be accompanied by X-rays to follow the evolution of the fracture. After a few weeks you can slowly move the elbow and avoid lifting objects for a few more weeks.

Long periods of immobilization help restore the fractured bone, but the elbow can become stiff, which is why it is necessary to start the physical therapy program, which helps:

➢ Recover the joint mobility
➢ Restore strength and muscle flexibility
➢ Reduce stiffness and pain
➢ Prevent relapses

It is indicated in the case of complicated fractures to reduce the fracture and align the bone.
After surgery, it is recommended to start the physical therapy program the next day. The exercises will be performed several times a day pursuing:

➢ increasing muscle strength
➢ increasing joint mobility
➢ widening the range of possible movements.

If, after surgery, numbness of the hand occurs, it will gradually disappear as the ulnar nerve heals. The recovery of a humerus fracture can take between 3 and 6 months, a longer period of time being necessary in the case of humeral head fractures, which can lead to the limitation of the shoulder movement up to about 90 degrees (the arm can only be raised to the level of the shoulder).

➢ After a fracture of the humerus, avoid lifting any object for 6-12 weeks

➢ Ask the advice of a physical therapist to recover the movement in the arm, to prevent joint stiffness and inflammation. Only with the help of exercises can the muscle strength in the arm be recovered.