What is a shoulder fracture?

Also known as: shoulder bone fracture, broken shoulder.

When a bone in shoulder breaks, such as the scapula, proximal humerus or clavicle, this is known as a shoulder fracture. There are different types, including a stable fracture where the bones stay aligned, an open fracture that punctures the skin, a transverse fracture with a horizontal line, an oblique fracture with an angled pattern, or a comminuted fracture where the bone shatters into several pieces.

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Reviewed by: Craig J Spurdle, MD

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM