Are there any open wounds (rare, but ensure the consultant has looked in the axilla)?

What is the neurovascular status (especially axillary and radial nerves)?

Can their jewelry on the ipsilateral arm/hand be removed, and can the IV access be placed on the contralateral arm?

What is the patient’s hand dominance?

What is the patient’s ambulatory status and need for assistive devices?

Patient should be sitting upright if possible and be placed in a sling until your arrival.

Analgesia and/or anxiolytic/antispasmodic for shaft fractures requiring reduction.

Fracture/dislocations: see other chapters (Glenohumeral Dislocations, Chapter 22; and Elbow Dislocations, Chapter 19)

Open fracture

Neurologic injury or vascular compromise

X-rays of the shoulder (true AP, one orthogonal view [scapular Y, axillary lateral, Velpeau view] at minimum), humerus (AP and transthoracic lateral), elbow (three views), and chest AP.

CT may be helpful for complicated proximal or distal humerus fractures.

Postreduction X-rays of the injury if reduction is performed.