A fracture is a break in a bone. Most fractures heal well, but the outcome depends heavily on whether the bone is in an acceptable position, whether the injury involves a joint surface, and whether the fracture is stable enough to heal without fixation. Getting that assessment right early is what determines whether you need surgery and how well the limb works afterwards.
This practice treats fractures of the shoulder girdle and fractures related to sport. Fractures of the hand, wrist, hip, foot, and spine are managed by surgeons who specialise in those regions, and we will point you to the right person if your injury falls outside our scope.
Fractures we treat
Clavicle (collarbone) fractures
One of the most common fractures in cycling, contact sport, and falls onto the shoulder. Many clavicle fractures heal well in a sling. Surgery is considered when the bone ends are significantly displaced or shortened, when the skin is at risk, or when the fracture involves the outer end of the bone and is unstable.
Proximal humerus fractures
A break at the top of the upper arm bone, near the shoulder joint. Treatment depends on how many fragments there are, how displaced they are, bone quality, and what the shoulder needs to do. Options range from sling immobilisation with early motion, through fixation, to shoulder replacement in specific fracture patterns.
Stress fractures
Overuse injuries where repeated loading outpaces the bone’s ability to remodel — common in runners and in athletes who increase training volume quickly. They often do not show on early X-rays, so a stress fracture is diagnosed on the pattern of symptoms and confirmed on MRI when needed. Treatment is load management, and identifying why it happened matters as much as treating the fracture itself.
Avulsion fractures
A fragment of bone pulled away by a tendon or ligament under sudden load, frequently seen in adolescent athletes. Because these injuries involve the attachment of a soft-tissue structure, treatment decisions overlap with ligament and tendon injury care.
Scapula and shoulder blade fractures
Uncommon and usually the result of significant force, so associated injuries need to be excluded. Most are treated without surgery; fractures involving the glenoid — the socket of the shoulder joint — are assessed more carefully because joint surface position affects long-term function.
When to seek care
- Obvious deformity, or bone visible through the skin — seek emergency care immediately
- Inability to move or use the limb after an injury
- Numbness, pins and needles, or a cold or pale hand — seek emergency care immediately
- Pain and swelling after a fall or collision that is not settling over a few days
- Activity-related bone pain in an athlete that worsens with training and eases with rest
An open fracture — where the skin is broken over the break — and any fracture with signs of nerve or blood vessel involvement are emergencies and should go to an emergency department, not a clinic appointment.
How fractures are treated
Without surgery
Many fractures heal in good position and need protection rather than fixation: a sling or brace, a defined period of restricted loading, and a staged return to motion and then strength. Repeat X-rays confirm the position is holding as the fracture heals. Starting motion at the right time matters — too early can displace the fracture, too late leaves a stiff joint.
With surgery
Fixation is considered when a fracture is displaced beyond what will remodel acceptably, is unstable, involves a joint surface, or has failed to heal. The goal is to restore position and provide enough stability for early controlled motion. In selected proximal humerus fracture patterns — particularly with poor bone quality or an unreconstructable head — replacement gives a more predictable result than fixation.
Recovery
Bone healing generally takes six to twelve weeks, but regaining full function takes longer, and the two are not the same thing. A healed X-ray does not mean a ready shoulder. Recovery is usually staged: protection, then restoring motion, then strength, then sport-specific work. Return to contact sport is a separate decision from return to daily activity, and is based on healing, strength, and confidence rather than on the calendar alone.
Our patient resources section includes the physical therapy protocols used after specific procedures.
Next step
If you have had an injury and are unsure whether something is broken, or you have been told you have a fracture and want a second opinion on whether it needs surgery, call 916-732-3005 or request an appointment.