# Intrathoracic Humeral Head Fracture: A Case Report

## TL;DR

This case report describes a rare and severe shoulder injury where the humeral head fractures and moves into the chest cavity, causing life-threatening complications.

## Contribution

The paper presents a successful treatment case of a rare intrathoracic humeral head fracture with aortic laceration, offering clinical insights.

## Key findings

- Intrathoracic humeral head fractures are rare and can cause severe damage to critical chest structures.
- The reported case was successfully treated despite the fracture lacerating the thoracic aorta.
- Current guidelines for treating this injury are lacking, highlighting the need for further research and standardized protocols.

## Abstract

An intrathoracic humeral head fracture is a rare injury usually caused by a high-energy force to the shoulder, resulting in medial displacement of the humeral head. This injury can be severe and life-threatening due to the proximity of the dislocated and fractured bone to the critical structures within the intrathoracic cavity. There are no current official guidelines for the treatment of such injuries. We report the successful treatment of a patient with an intrathoracic humeral head fracture that lacerated the thoracic aorta.