How do you set a broken arm?

Call the nearest hospital.

If you can’t get to a hospital…

Well, obviously, you’re not in the “middle of nowhere” right now, so why don’t you try doing some first aid research.

if u have high pain tolerance u can pop it back in p;ace but it would hurt so bad yur azz would wind up goin to the doctor anyway

I didnt say go to the nearest hospital. I said to call them. See what they suggest.

Call a hospital or doctor or even better GO TO ONE. If it’s an emergency an ambulance will fetch you if you can’t get to them.

Maybe I should have said this in the first place, I’m a writer… This is for a story… Obviously I’ll be doing some major research, but seeing as I was on a site like this I thought I’d ask.

Get hold of the book “Wilderness First Responder” from Wilderness Medicine Institute (they have a website, just Google Wilderness Medicine Institute).

When in the “wilderness context” (meaning more than two hours form advanced care), a trained layperson can and should reduce an arm fracture. This is done by applying traction. If it is the radius or ulna that is broken, the responder grasps the hand of that arm of the injured person, and with responder’s other hand, grasps the injured person’s arm just above the elbow joint. The injured person;s hand is then pulled toward the responder, while the responder’s other hand [pushes away from the responder. This traction will straighten the fractured bones. This is very important where there is obvious deformity. Failing to do this may result in loss of circulation and the person losing the arm to amputation.

When the humerus (upper arm) is broken. no traction should be applied unless it is an open fracture (i.e., part of the bone has poked through the skin) or unless there is obvious deformity. The arm should be slinged and the sling should be wrapped against the person’s chest.

Reduction of an arm fracture should ONLY be performed if one is in the “wilderness context,” which, again, means at least two hours away from a hospital.

Circulation should be regularly checked by the responder pressing between the responder’s thumb and forefinger, on fingernails on the fingers of the injured arm, then releasing. If the nail bed returns to pink, circulation is good; if it stays white for more than two seconds, circulation is poor.

Yes, there is risk in a layperson reducing a fracture in the field; jagged bone edges could cut blood vessels and lead to bleeding that could, in turn, produce severe shock or death if unable to be controlled. Nerve damage may also be caused the same way, resulting in permanent total or partial loss of feeling or movement in the limb. However, if one is more than two hours from a hospital (and this means two hours travel time, regardless of the actual distance), it is much better to go ahead and reduce the fracture, than to not do so. The odds of permanent damage or loss of the limb are much greater if the fracture is not reduced.

Reducing the fracture will also result in a great reduction in the pain suffered by the patient.

These and other techniques may be learned by taking a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course. That’s how I was able to answer this question!

Thanks so much for your detailed answer. I appreciate it a ton. Thanks also for the name of the book and the website info.