Extra Articular Fracture Treatment in India

Anika Jones, a 28-year-old elementary school...

Anika Jones, a 28-year-old elementary school teacher and avid rock climber, was leading a difficult route when she fell, landing awkwardly on her outstretched arm. She felt immediate, severe pain in her upper arm and heard a sickening crack. At the ER, X-rays revealed a comminuted extra-articular fracture of the humerus shaft, the bone was broken in several places, but thankfully the shoulder and elbow joints were spared. The orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Chen, explained that due to the multiple fragments and displacement, surgery was necessary to realign and stabilize the bone for proper healing. He recommended an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with a plate and screws. Anika was terrified of surgery and devastated by the thought of being sidelined from climbing and unable to write on her classroom whiteboard. The procedure went smoothly. Waking up with her arm in a splint, the sharp fracture pain was gone, replaced by surgical soreness. Her recovery involved weeks in a brace, followed by diligent physical therapy to regain strength and range of motion. While initially anxious and frustrated by her dependence on others, seeing her bone heal well on follow-up X-rays and gradually regaining function brought immense relief. Six months post-op, she was back to teaching full-duty and has started easy top-rope climbing, her confidence slowly rebuilding alongside her physical strength.