Arm and Wrist Personal Injuries

Trauma or personal injury to the arm or upper extremity extremity often results from an automobile accident or other incident involving the negligence or fault of another person, business, or government entity. When a person is injured due to the negligence or fault of another person or entity, a case or claim for personal injuries can be pursued on behalf of the injury victim. The arm is comprised of three large bones as follows:

Humerus Bone which is commonly referred to as the Upper Arm. The Humerus Bone is located between the shoulder and the elbow.

Radius Bone which is commonly referred to as the Forearm. The Radius Bone is located between the elbow and the thumb side of the wrist.

Ulna Bone which is commonly referred to as the Forearm. The Ulna Bone is located between the elbow and the small finger (pinkie) side of the wrist.

The Humerus Bone, Radius Bone, and the Ulna Bone join together at the elbow. Like the knee and ankle, the elbow is a joint which serves as a hinge of sort and allows for the flexion and extension of the arm or upper extremity.

When there is fracture of the Radius Bone or the Ulna Bone, a common form of treatment is the cast and immobilize the arm which, over time, will allow for the healing of the bone. When there are Compound Fractures of the Radius Bone or the Ulna Bone, surgical intervention may be required to place pins, plates, screws, or other hardware to treat and stabilize the bone.

The Radius Bone and Ulna Bone are joined with bones of the hand which form the wrist. The Carpal Bones (as part of the carpus) consist of eight bones which form the wrist and the hand.

The arm and wrist are also composed of ligaments, tendons, and muscles that can be damages or injured due to trauma from an accident or incident. The biceps muscle is the muscle that is located on the front of the Humerus (Upper Arm) and the biceps muscle is connected to bones through three tendons. Two tendons (the long head tendon and the short head tendon) attached the biceps muscle to the shoulder and the other tendon attaches the biceps muscle to the Radius Bone (Lower Arm). The tendon attaches the biceps muscle to the Radius Bone at the elbow joint.

The triceps muscle is the muscle located on the back of the Humerus (Upper Arm). The triceps muscle allows for the straightening of the arm or the extension of the elbow joint. Tendons are strong bands of tissue that connect muscles to bone.

When there is trauma to the arm, the arm may be injured in the form of fractures to a bone or tears to a muscle, tendon, or ligament. A direct impact or trauma to the arm can result in serious personal injuries. In addition, a sudden forceful twisting or turning of the arm can also result in serious personal injuries to the arm that require medical treatment including but not limited to therapy, pain management, and surgical intervention.