American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) Orthopedic Practice Test

A poorly healed humeral shaft fracture can lead to a variety of complications, one of which is periarthritis, specifically referred to as frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis. This condition occurs due to inflammation and stiffness around the shoulder joint, often caused by disuse after an injury. When the humeral shaft doesn’t heal properly, the surrounding soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, and the joint capsule can become tight and restricted. This limitation in motion can leading to pain and decreased function in the shoulder over time.

The other options, while they may be associated with shoulder issues, are not direct complications stemming from a poorly healed humeral shaft fracture. Osteoarthritis typically results from joint wear over time and is more influenced by factors like age and previous joint injuries rather than a specific fracture healing poorly. A rotator cuff tear often arises from acute injuries or degenerative changes rather than directly from a humeral shaft fracture. Shoulder impingement syndrome can occur in various contexts but is not as definitively linked to the complications from a poorly healed fracture as periarthritis is.