Arm Fracture

Arm Fracture Care Near You in New Jersey

A broken arm can make simple, everyday tasks, like lifting objects, typing, driving, getting dressed, or carrying groceries, too painful to do. Arm fractures can range from small cracks in the bone to severe breaks that affect joint alignment and mobility. Without proper treatment, fractures may heal incorrectly and lead to long-term pain, weakness, or limited movement.
At Interventional Spine & Surgery Group, we provide comprehensive orthopedic care for arm fractures and other arm injuries near you in New Jersey. Patients get fast access to patient-centered care, providing the relief they need without a long wait. Learn how we can help you heal with personalized treatment plans and support, from your first appointment until your arm is healed.

Key Takeaways

  • Arm fractures involve a break in one or more bones in the upper arm, forearm, wrist, or elbow.
  • Symptoms often include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty moving the arm.
  • Treatment may include splinting, casting, bracing, physical therapy, or surgery.
  • Interventional Spine & Surgery Group offers advanced diagnostic, treatment, and pain management to help you heal and recover from a broken arm.
Interventional Spine & Surgery Group

Understanding Arm Fractures: What Are They, and How Are They Treated?

An arm fracture is when one or more bones in the arm break. The injury may affect different bones, including the humerus (upper arm bone), radius, ulna, elbow, or wrist. They can also vary in severity. Some involve tiny cracks that stay stable, while others cause the bones to shift out of alignment.
Common fracture types include:
  • Nondisplaced: The bone cracks or breaks but stays in place.
  • Displaced: The bone breaks into two or more pieces and shifts out of place.
  • Closed (simple): The bone is broken, but the skin doesn’t break.
  • Comminuted: The bone breaks into multiple, shattered pieces.
  • Open (compound): The broken bone pierces the skin.
  • Segmental: The same bone is broken in two different places.
The severity of the injury affects the best treatment. Some fractures heal with immobilization, while others need to be stabilized with surgery. Without treatment, fractures may not heal correctly. This could impact your arm’s strength and mobility over the long term.

What Causes Arm Fractures?

Most arm fractures happen after a direct trauma or sudden impact. The amount of force involved often determines the severity of the injury. Common causes include:
  • Sports injuries in contact sports
  • Car accidents and high-impact trauma
  • Direct blows to the arm during physical activity
  • Twisting injuries, which are common in wrestling
  • Workplace injuries
  • Bicycle and motorcycle accidents
Falls remain one of the leading causes of fractures among older adults. When you fall, you instinctively extend your arm to catch yourself. That protective reflex puts extra weight on your wrist and arm, which can cause it to snap.

Factors That Increase Your Risk of a Broken Arm

While broken arms are more common in older adults and competitive athletes, anyone can break their arm. Certain medical conditions and lifestyles can weaken bones or increase the likelihood of injury, including:
  • Osteoporosis, or low bone density
  • Previous fractures
  • Old age
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Smoking
  • Poor balance
  • Muscle weakness
  • Participation in high-impact sports
Athletes involved in football, wrestling, hockey, gymnastics, snowboarding, skateboarding, skiing, or cycling may face a higher risk of traumatic arm injuries. Likewise, kids whose bones are still developing or older adults whose bones are losing density are at increased risk.

What Are the Symptoms of a Broken Arm?

Most arm fractures cause immediate pain. However, if you have a simple fracture, you may not start to develop symptoms until a few hours later, depending on which bone is broken and how you broke it.
Look out for:
  • Sudden sharp pain
  • Swelling and bruising
  • Tenderness
  • Weakness, stiffness, difficulty moving the arm, or instability
  • Popping or cracking sensations
  • Visible deformity, such as the arm being bent, shortened, or out of place
You should seek immediate emergency attention if the bone is poking through your skin, you can’t move your arm at all, your fingers are turning blue or numb, or if you have severe pain or swelling. Prompt treatment helps reduce the risk of complications, such as nerve damage, improper healing, infection, or long-term joint dysfunction.

Diagnosing an Arm Fracture

If you think your arm is broken, you should reach out to your doctor as soon as possible. Even minor fractures can involve joint instability or hidden soft tissue injuries that can lead to complications. When you schedule an appointment at Interventional Spine & Surgery Group, our diagnostic process includes both a physical evaluation and imaging tests.
  • Physical exam: Your doctor will assess the location and severity of pain, check for swelling, deformity, and skin damage. They’ll also evaluate your range of motion, sensation, and circulation in your hand and fingers.
  • Imaging tests: Imaging helps your doctor confirm the fracture. They may order X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to determine the severity of the break and whether there’s any soft tissue damage.
With the results of both your exam and the imaging, your doctor will create a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Non-Surgical Treatment Options for Broken Arms

Many broken arms heal well without surgery. Conservative treatment is the first choice if the break is stable and the bones are in the correct place. Non-surgical options include:
  • Immobilization: A cast, splint, or brace holds the bone in place as it heals.
  • Closed reduction: If your bones have shifted, your doctor can manually realign them without surgery before they apply a cast.
  • Pain management: Anti-inflammatory medications and ice can help you control your pain and swelling in the early stages.
  • Physical therapy: Once the fracture begins to heal, physical therapy can help you restore your strength and range of motion.
Most stable fractures heal within six to eight weeks with consistent immobilization and follow-up care.

Surgical Treatment

Some fractures require surgery to help stabilize and realign the bones. Your doctor will recommend surgery if:
  • Your fracture is severely displaced or unstable.
  • Your break involves the elbow or wrist.
  • Your bone cannot be aligned with only a cast.
  • There is an open fracture.
  • Nerves, blood vessels, or soft tissues are involved.
Common surgical approaches include open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), in which plates, screws, or rods are used to hold the bone in the correct position. In some cases, you may need an external fixation device if your fracture is severe. At Interventional Spine & Surgery Group, we use minimally invasive techniques, when possible, to reduce complications and speed up your recovery.
Recovery after surgery can take about eight to 12 weeks. You’ll start physical therapy once your bone is healed enough. Depending on how severe your fracture is and your individual healing, you may be able to return to full activity within three to six months.

Why Choose Interventional Spine & Surgery Group?

Not all orthopedic care is equal. At Interventional Spine & Surgery Group, our patients benefit from a multidisciplinary team, including orthopedic surgeons, pain management specialists, physiatrists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, chiropractors, and physical therapists, all working collaboratively under one roof.
Our orthopedist, Dr. Sean Lager, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in sports medicine. His expertise spans arthroscopy and the full spectrum of sports-related and traumatic injuries, from simple sprains to complex multi-fractures in both children and adults.
What makes Dr. Lager different is that he’s been a patient, too. As a competitive athlete who underwent orthopedic surgery himself, he understands the anxiety, the questions, and the urgency to return to the activities you love. He brings that perspective into every appointment, taking time to explain your diagnosis, walk through your options, and build a treatment plan around your goals.
When you choose us, you can expect:
  • Comprehensive evaluation from an experienced orthopedic specialist
  • Access to advanced imaging and diagnostics on-site
  • Both surgical and non-surgical treatment options tailored to your injury
  • Fast access to coordinated care with physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists
From your first visit through your last physical therapy session, our team is focused on getting you back to full strength. Here, we can see you now, we care, and we’ll help you get better.

Find Arm Fracture Care Near You in New Jersey

Early evaluation leads to better outcomes. If you have arm pain, swelling, or limited mobility after an injury, the orthopedic team at Interventional Spine & Surgery Group is here to help. With nine convenient locations throughout New Jersey, you can receive expert care for arm fractures without going too far from home. Contact us today to schedule an appointment at a location near you in NJ.

Frequently Asked Questions About Broken Arms

What is the most common type of arm fracture?
Distal radius (wrist) fractures are the most common arm fractures, often from falling on an outstretched hand. They are especially common in children and older adults.
Can I move my arm if it’s fractured?
Sometimes. If you have a simple fracture, you may be able to move your arm. However, if you have a complex or displaced fracture, you may be unable to.
Do all arm fractures require a cast?
No. Some fractures are treated with braces or slings. Those that are more complex may require surgery instead.
When is surgery necessary for a broken arm?
Surgery may be necessary when the fracture is displaced, unstable, involves the joint, or cannot heal properly with conservative treatment alone.
How long before I can return to sports after an arm fracture?
Return-to-sport timelines vary based on your healing and how severe your break was. Many patients require several months (sometimes six to eight) before they can safely resume full activity.
What happens during physical therapy after an arm fracture?
After a broken arm, physical therapy focuses on improving range of motion, flexibility, strength, coordination, and overall arm function.
Can a broken arm heal on its own?
Not really. While bone can heal by itself, without proper treatment, it may heal incorrectly. This can result in chronic pain and a limited range of motion.
How do I know if my arm is broken or just sprained?
You need to see a doctor for imaging. Both sprains and fractures can cause pain and swelling, which is why self-diagnosis is hard. If you hear a popping sound or have immediate severe pain or a visible deformity, you most likely broke your arm.

Frequently Asked Questions About Broken Arms

What is the most common type of arm fracture?
Distal radius (wrist) fractures are the most common arm fractures, often from falling on an outstretched hand. They are especially common in children and older adults.
Sometimes. If you have a simple fracture, you may be able to move your arm. However, if you have a complex or displaced fracture, you may be unable to.
No. Some fractures are treated with braces or slings. Those that are more complex may require surgery instead.
Surgery may be necessary when the fracture is displaced, unstable, involves the joint, or cannot heal properly with conservative treatment alone.
Return-to-sport timelines vary based on your healing and how severe your break was. Many patients require several months (sometimes six to eight) before they can safely resume full activity.
After a broken arm, physical therapy focuses on improving range of motion, flexibility, strength, coordination, and overall arm function.
Not really. While bone can heal by itself, without proper treatment, it may heal incorrectly. This can result in chronic pain and a limited range of motion.
You need to see a doctor for imaging. Both sprains and fractures can cause pain and swelling, which is why self-diagnosis is hard. If you hear a popping sound or have immediate severe pain or a visible deformity, you most likely broke your arm.
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