Broken Arm Settlement Value: Humerus, Radius, Ulna, and the Nerve-Involvement Premium

Arm fractures produce a wide settlement value range because the anatomy varies significantly between bones and within bones, and because the functional impact differs substantially by location. A clean humeral shaft fracture treated in a functional brace heals well and produces modest case value. A comminuted intra-articular distal humerus fracture with radial nerve involvement is a substantially different case. This page covers the framework that applies to the major arm fracture patterns.

Arm anatomy

The arm has three long bones and several joint surfaces:

• Humerus — single bone from shoulder to elbow.
  • Proximal — near the shoulder. Fractures can involve the surgical neck or anatomic neck.
  • Shaft — the long middle portion. The radial nerve runs along the posterior shaft, making radial nerve injury a recognized fracture complication.
  • Distal — near the elbow. Intra-articular fractures here are catastrophic for elbow function.
• Radius — forearm bone on the thumb side.
  • Proximal — radial head, near the elbow.
  • Shaft — middle portion. Forearm rotation depends on intact radial shaft.
  • Distal — wrist end. See Broken Wrist.
• Ulna — forearm bone on the pinky side.
  • Proximal — olecranon (the elbow bony prominence).
  • Shaft — middle portion.
  • Distal — wrist end.

The forearm bones (radius and ulna) function as a paired unit. Forearm rotation (supination and pronation) requires both bones to be intact and properly aligned — meaning fractures of one bone almost always affect the function of the other. ORIF for both-bone forearm fractures requires anatomic restoration of both bone lengths and rotations.

Severity tiers

Non-displaced or minimally displaced humeral shaft fracture. Functional brace treatment, healing in 10-14 weeks. Settlement value range: $20,000–$45,000.

Displaced humeral shaft fracture, ORIF. Surgical fixation with plate and screws or intramedullary nail. Settlement value range: $35,000–$75,000.

Humeral fracture with radial nerve palsy. Nerve injury, wrist drop, recovery over 3-6 months (or longer if neurorrhaphy needed). Settlement value range: $60,000–$150,000.

Both-bone forearm fracture, ORIF. Surgical fixation of radius and ulna, anatomic restoration of bone length and rotation. Settlement value range: $40,000–$90,000.

Distal humerus (elbow) fracture, intra-articular. Joint surface involvement, ORIF, high arthritis risk, residual stiffness common. Settlement value range: $60,000–$150,000.

Open fracture or fracture with vascular injury. Skin disruption, requires emergent surgery, infection risk, possible compartment syndrome. Settlement value range: $80,000–$300,000+.

Catastrophic outcome — nonunion, malunion, or permanent nerve deficit. Revision surgery or permanent functional impairment. Settlement value range: $150,000–$500,000+.

What moves the dollar number

Bone involved. Humerus fractures generally produce more functional impact than isolated forearm bone fractures. Elbow region fractures (distal humerus, olecranon, radial head) produce particularly high impact due to elbow stiffness risk.

Fracture pattern. Comminuted (multi-fragment) fractures heal less reliably than two-part fractures. Intra-articular fractures produce arthritis risk that simple shaft fractures don’t.

Surgical versus non-surgical treatment. Surgical cases produce higher case values through specials, recovery period, and severity implication.

Nerve involvement. Radial nerve palsy (with humeral fractures), ulnar nerve injury (with elbow fractures), and median nerve injury (less common) all add substantial value. EMG/NCS testing documents the nerve injury and recovery course.

Vascular injury. Brachial artery injury with arm fractures is uncommon but catastrophic. Requires emergent surgical repair and can produce compartment syndrome, ischemic damage, or limb-threatening complications.

Range of motion at maximum medical improvement. Elbow stiffness is the most common long-term complication. Range-of-motion measurements compared to the contralateral side quantify the impairment.

Occupation. Manual laborers, surgeons, dental professionals, athletes face substantial impact.

Dominant arm. Dominant-side fractures produce more functional impact than non-dominant.

Multiplier framework

Standard arm fracture cases apply a 2.5× to 3.5× multiplier. Cases with nerve involvement, elbow involvement, or complications move to 3.5× to 5×.

ORIF humeral shaft case:

• Medical specials (paid): $40,000
• Lost wages: $15,000 (10 weeks off work)
• Economic damages: $55,000
• Multiplier: 3×
• Non-economic damages: $165,000
• Gross settlement value: $220,000

Humeral fracture with radial nerve palsy, manual laborer:

• Medical specials past + future: $80,000
• Lost wages: $35,000+
• Lost earning capacity: $100,000+
• Economic damages: $215,000+
• Multiplier: 4×
• Non-economic damages: $860,000+
• Gross settlement value: $1,075,000+

What the defense argues

Standard defense framework — fracture healing as endpoint, pre-existing degenerative findings, ORIF as elective, hardware removal as elective, Howell adjustments — applies as in other orthopedic cases.

Specific to arm fractures:

Radial nerve recovery. Defense IME doctors typically opine that radial nerve palsy will recover completely with conservative observation. The plaintiff’s counter requires EMG/NCS evidence of nerve dysfunction, the actual recovery timeline, and treating physician opinion on any residual deficit.

Elbow stiffness as therapy failure. When elbow stiffness develops, defense attributes it to inadequate PT compliance. The plaintiff’s counter relies on therapy attendance records and the recognized incidence of stiffness after elbow fractures regardless of compliance.

Dominant arm adaptation. Defense argues plaintiffs adapt to non-dominant function. The plaintiff’s counter relies on documented functional limitations and the real-world impact on daily activities and work.

Related upper-extremity injuries

Versus Broken Collarbone. Clavicle fractures involve the shoulder girdle. Combined cases are valued additively, with the more severe injury typically dominating.

Versus Broken Wrist. Distal radius fractures are valued under the wrist framework. Cases with mid-shaft forearm and distal radius fractures are valued additively.

Versus Rotator Cuff Tear. Shoulder injuries from same mechanism are separately evaluated.

The arm fracture case’s value depends on the specific bone, fracture pattern, complications, and functional outcome. The medical evidence development through the healing and post-healing period determines the valuation tier.