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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

Common causes of a broken arm include:

  • Falls. Falling onto an outstretched hand or elbow is the most common cause of a broken arm.
  • Sports injuries. Direct blows and injuries on the field or court are a common cause of all types of arm fractures.
  • Significant trauma. Any of your arm bones can break during a car accident, bike accident or other direct trauma.
  • Child abuse. In children, a broken arm may be the result of child abuse.
Risk factors Symptoms

  • See Also

    • Hand Scheduled
    Section Focus
  • Child abuse

    • Related Links
    Related Guides
    Children
    Parent
References
  1. Broken arm. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00078. Accessed July 14, 2011.
  2. Woolfrey KG, et al. Wrist and forearm. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..X0001-1--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed July 14, 2011.
  3. Geiderman JM, et al. Humerus and elbow. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..X0001-1--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed July 14, 2011.
  4. Forearm fractures in children. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00039. Accessed July 14, 2011.
  5. Mathison DJ, et al. General principles of fracture management: Fracture patterns and description in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 14, 2011.
  6. Petron DJ. Distal radius fractures in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 14, 2011.
  7. Osteoporosis overview. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/overview.asp. Accessed July 18, 2011.
  8. Bassett R. Proximal humeral fractures in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 14, 2011.
  9. Fracture. Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2011. http://dorlands.com/index.jsp. Accessed July 18, 2011.
DS01001 Aug. 19, 2011

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