A glenoid fracture is a fracture (break) of the glenoid (socket) of the shoulder joint. The glenoid is a portion of the scapula (shoulder blade) that articulates with the humeral head (ball) of the shoulder joint. Glenoid fractures occur through injury and are usually associated with significant trauma.
What Is a Glenoid Fracture?
The glenoid (socket) of the shoulder joint is a portion of the scapula (shoulder blade) that articulates with the humeral head (ball) of the shoulder joint.
The glenoid can be fractured (broken) through injury and is usually associated with significant trauma. With appropriate treatment and normal alignment of the bones, fracture healing can be expected. Surgery may be necessary to realign fractures that are displaced.
Causes and Risk Factors
Causes include:
- A direct blow or force to the arm bone
- Indirect stress from falling on an outstretched hand
- Violent muscle contraction
- Shoulder dislocation
- Severe trauma, such as a motor vehicle accident or other high-energy injury
Risk factors include:
- Contact sports such as football and rugby
- High-risk activities such as skiing or auto racing
- A history of bone or joint disease or previous immobilization of the arm
- Poor physical conditioning, including strength and flexibility
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms may include:
- Severe arm pain at the time of injury
- Tenderness, swelling, and later bruising of the arm
- Later swelling and bruising in the elbow and hand
- Visible deformity if the fracture is complete and the bone fragments separate enough to distort normal body contours
- Numbness, coldness, or paralysis below the fracture involving the forearm or hand from pressure on or stretching of blood vessels or nerves, which is rare
Treatment
If the bones are in appropriate alignment, initial treatment consists of ice and medications to help relieve pain. Immobilization in a sling for six weeks is recommended to protect the bones while they heal.
Severe fractures that are displaced, or not in appropriate alignment, require surgery to restore the fracture fragments to their proper position and promote healing. Surgery usually includes repositioning the bones and holding the alignment with sutures or plates and screws.
After immobilization, with or without surgery, stretching and strengthening of the injured and weakened shoulder and elbow joints and surrounding muscles is necessary. These exercises are usually performed with the assistance of a physical therapist or athletic trainer.
Recovery and Outcomes
With appropriate treatment and normal alignment of the bones, fracture healing can be expected. Average healing time is six to eight weeks in adults and four to six weeks in children.
Full recovery requires physical therapy for around four to six months. Outcomes and function vary based on the severity of the fracture.
When to See Dr. Chudik
Call Dr. Chudik’s office for evaluation following a shoulder injury with symptoms such as severe arm pain, tenderness, swelling, bruising, or visible deformity. Call 630-324-0402 or request an appointment online.