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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffDepending on the severity of the break, your family doctor or the emergency room physician may recommend that you or your child be examined by an orthopedic surgeon.
What you can do
You may want to write a list that includes:
- Detailed descriptions of the symptoms and the precipitating event
- Information about past medical problems
- All the medications and dietary supplements you or your child takes
- Questions you want to ask the doctor
For a broken arm, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What kinds of tests are needed?
- What is the best course of action?
- Is surgery necessary?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
- What restrictions will need to be followed?
- Should I see a specialist?
- What pain medications do you recommend?
Don't hesitate to ask any other questions that you may have.
What to expect from your doctor
During the physical exam, your doctor will inspect the affected area for tenderness, swelling, deformity or an open wound. He or she will probably want to see X-rays of the injury.
Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, including:
- Did the symptoms come on suddenly?
- Can you describe what happened to cause the symptoms?
- Did you or your child experience an injury to trigger the symptoms?
- How severe are the symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to improve the symptoms?
- What, if anything, appears to worsen the symptoms?
References
- Broken arm. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00078. Accessed July 14, 2011.
- 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.
- 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.
- Forearm fractures in children. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00039. Accessed July 14, 2011.
- 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.
- Petron DJ. Distal radius fractures in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 14, 2011.
- 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.
- Bassett R. Proximal humeral fractures in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 14, 2011.
- Fracture. Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2011. http://dorlands.com/index.jsp. Accessed July 18, 2011.
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