Surgical procedures
Treatment of shoulder fractures
Realigning and stabilizing broken bones around the shoulder and arm, with fixation or replacement chosen to fit the fracture and the patient.
Fracture fixation
Restores alignment
Tailored to the break
How are shoulder fractures treated surgically?
When a fracture around the shoulder or arm is displaced or unstable, surgery restores the alignment of the bone so it can heal and the shoulder can move well again. The right approach depends on which bone is broken and the fracture pattern.
Options include fixation with plates and screws to hold the pieces together, and for severely shattered fractures in older patients, a reverse shoulder replacement that provides more reliable, lasting function.
What & why
Why it's recommended
Displaced proximal humerus, clavicle, or humeral shaft fractures
Fractures involving the joint surface
Unstable or open fractures
Fractures associated with nerve injury
At a glance
The right fix for the fracture
Dr. Cohn matches the treatment to the break, preserving and repairing bone whenever possible, and choosing replacement only when it gives the most reliable result.
Anesthesia & hospital stay
The day of surgery
Most fracture surgeries take around two hours. You'll be fully asleep, with a nerve block for comfort afterward.
General anesthesia
Completely asleep, with a nerve block for lasting comfort.
About 2 hours
Time varies with the complexity of the fracture.
Home same day or 1 night
Many are outpatient; complex cases may stay one night.
Surgical setting
Performed at Summit Atlantic Surgery Center or Overlook.
Recovery timeline & milestones
What recovery looks like
Recovery protects the healing bone while keeping the shoulder moving to prevent stiffness.
Protect
A sling supports the arm while early healing begins.
Gentle motion
Therapy introduces gentle range-of-motion as the bone stabilizes.
Active motion
You progress to active use as the fracture unites.
Strength
Strengthening restores function for daily activities.
Risks & benefits
Weighing the procedure
- Restores bone alignment and length
- Allows earlier, protected motion
- Reduces the risk of stiffness and arthritis
- Tailored to the specific fracture pattern
- Hardware irritation, occasionally requiring removal
- Stiffness during recovery
- Delayed healing or, rarely, non-union
- Infection, uncommon
Treats these conditions
Surgical fracture care treats proximal humerus, clavicle, and humeral shaft fractures.
FAQ
Common questions
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No, many shoulder and arm fractures heal well without surgery. Operation is reserved for displaced, unstable, or joint-involving fractures.
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Plates and screws are made of titanium or stainless steel and are usually left in place permanently, removed only if they cause irritation.
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Gentle motion often begins within the first weeks to prevent stiffness, Dr. Cohn guides the timing based on the fracture and how it was fixed.
Related conditions