Upper Arm

BICEPS TENDON RUPTURE (LONG HEAD-SHOULDER REGION)

The biceps muscle is in front of your upper arm. It helps you bend your elbow and rotate your arm. It also helps keep your shoulder stable.

Tendons attach muscles to bone. Your biceps tendons attach the biceps muscle to bones in the shoulder and in the elbow. If you tear the biceps tendon at the shoulder, you may lose some strength in your arm and be unable to forcefully turn your arm from palm down to palm up. Symptoms may also consist of sudden, sharp pain in the upper arm, audible pop or snap, cramping of the muscle with strenuous use, pain or tenderness at the shoulder, and/or weakness in the shoulder. Many can still function with a biceps tendon tear, and only need simple treatments to relieve symptoms. Some require surgery to repair the torn tendon.

HUMERAL MID-SHAFT FRACTURE

The humerus is the bone that connects the shoulder to the elbow. A break of the mid-shaft does not typically involve the shoulder or elbow. Symptoms may include swelling, bruising, pain or tenderness to the touch, and/or a deformity (“My arm doesn’t look right”). The goal of treatment is to realign the bone into correct position for proper healing. Depending on the break alignment, surgery may or may not be recommended.