Arm Injuries and Disorders

Summary

Of the 206 bones in your body, three of them are in your arm: the humerus, radius, and ulna. Your arms are also made up of muscles, joints, tendons, and other connective tissue. Injuries to any of these parts of the arm can occur during sports, a fall, or an accident.

Types of arm injuries include :

• Tendinitis and bursitis
• Sprains
• Dislocations
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Nerve problems
• Osteoarthritis

You may also have problems or injure specific parts of your arm, such as your hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder.

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Patient Handouts

• Arm CT scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Brachial plexopathy Medical Encyclopedia
• Radial head fracture – aftercare Medical Encyclopedia
• Radial nerve dysfunction Medical Encyclopedia

Encyclopedia

• Arm MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Armpit lump Medical Encyclopedia
• Brachial plexus injury in newborns Medical Encyclopedia
• Skeletal limb abnormalities Medical Encyclopedia
• Volkmann contracture Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Arm Pain Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Treatments and Therapies

• Arm, Hand, and Finger Replantation American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bone X-Ray (Radiography) Radiological Society of North America
• Hand/Wrist/Arm Problems American Academy of Family Physicians
• Upper Extremity Radiography American Society of Radiologic Technologists
• X-Ray Exam: Forearm Nemours Foundation
• X-Ray Exam: Upper Arm (Humerus) Nemours Foundation

Specifics

• Broken Arm Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Buerger’s Disease Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Distal Radius Fractures (Broken Wrist) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Lymphedema Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Nerve Injury American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• Ulnar Nerve Entrapment at the Elbow (Cubital Tunnel Syndrome) American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Vascular Disease American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Older Adults

• Bruising Hands and Arms American Osteopathic College of Dermatology

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Arm Injuries National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Humeral Fractures National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Radius Fractures National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Ulna Fractures National Institutes of Health

Find an Expert

• Find a Hand Surgeon American Society for Surgery of the Hand
• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Children

• Forearm Fractures in Children American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Genetics

• Liebenberg syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Reference Desk

• Muscles of the Upper Extremity National Cancer Institute

Journal Articles

• Arm Injuries and Disorders