What Does humerus Mean
The Latin word humĕrus arrived in Castilian as humerus . This is the name of a bone found in the arm , being the most extensive of the upper extremities.
At its lower end, the humerus connects with the radius and ulna through the elbow joint , while at its upper end it connects with the scapula through the shoulder joint .
It should be remembered that the ends of the long bones are called the epiphyses . The proximal epiphysis of the humerus is composed of the head, anatomical neck, surgical neck, greater tubercle, lesser tubercle, and intertubercular sulcus. In the distal epiphysis , meanwhile, the humeral condyle, trochlea, capitulum, coronoid fossa, olecranon fossa, radial fossa, lateral epicondyle, and medial epicondyle can be recognized.
The middle sector of long bones, on the other hand, is known as the diaphysis . It is about the body that develops between the epiphyses. The shaft of the humerus presents the body proper with its three faces; the lateral edge; the medial border; and the groove for the radial nerve.
Twenty-five muscles are inserted into the various sections of the humerus, such as the deltoid , the pectoralis major , the long supinator , the triceps brachii, and the supraspinatus , among others. The bone is also linked to various nerves .
The humerus can fracture for different reasons, the most frequent being the person's falls to the ground. The vast majority of these fractures do not cause bone displacement and therefore do not require surgical intervention. The usual thing is that the arm is immobilized for a certain period and analgesics are given to the patient, although the treatment varies according to the characteristics of the injury .
The main objective of the treatments applied to the humerus fracture is to ensure that the patient cannot move the affected area, and for this, different classic immobilization techniques are used , such as an abduction sling, a device used to support an part of the body that has been injured and prevent it from moving.
As a complement to immobilization, specialists usually advise their patients to take analgesics, since pain can be very difficult to bear during the recovery period. Professionals health must recognize the type of fracture of the humerus before determining the treatment chosen, since its effectiveness depends on different aspects, such as the potential harmful consequences in certain cases and the risk of diversion of fragments.
Most humerus fractures that cause a slight displacement of the proximal can be treated without the need for surgical operation. As mentioned in a previous paragraph, the fundamental procedure of this treatment consists of placing a cast and a sling to immobilize the affected area. In the case of an anatomical neck fracture, an orthopedist is necessary to avoid avascular necrosis .
When the part affected by the fracture is the distal third, treatment may consist of internal fixation of the bone or an open reduction. To choose the type of treatment, the opinion of the patient and the preferences of the doctor are taken into account, since each one has its advantages and disadvantages.
To stabilize a diaphyseal humerus fracture , a coaptation splint must be used, which requires the use of a special cloth to wrap the splint from the nape to the armpit, passing through the elbow. The compensatory ability of the elbow allows the angle to oscillate between 30 and 40 degrees.