Possible arm/shoulder injury?

saizine · Jul 25, 2014

I've been messing about a bit with a possibility for my next project, and I realised while writing down a few notes for it that I'm at a loss for the specifics of a central event. I'm looking for a plausible scenario for one of my characters who is injury. The aftermath is more important than the actual type of injury (i.e. broken bone, knife wound, gunshot, etc - I'm not wedded to any single type at this point), and ideally I'd want an injury that could:

Send a fit adult male to A&E and keep him in hospital for a few nights (longer would also work)
Limit use of either arm - long term/permanent damage is possible with the plot although regaining a majority of use is preferable
Preferably an upper torso/shoulder wound, on either side (front or back), or upper arm

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated! I've been doing some reading and I'm starting to worry that the scenario I'd prefer is unlikely, as I don't have much use for a simple graze that would have him patched up and sent home the same day, but I don't particularly want to deal with a shattered shoulder blade either. I've had some invaluable help from you guys in the past, so thanks in advance for any advice!

mirandashell · Jul 26, 2014

Broken collar bone and concussion. They keep him in hospital due to the latter and the former stops him using his arm properly for a while.

Larry M · Jul 26, 2014

How about a condition sometimes related to baseball, but can happen to others as well - a rotator cuff tear.

Such an injury involves a tear of muscles in the shoulder. It can happen many ways; not just a baseball injury.

For example, you could suffer this injury as a baseball pitcher, or by trying to start a lawn mower with a pull chord - a sudden, jerking motion can tear the muscles.

I hope this helps.

Mr Flibble · Jul 26, 2014

A brachial plexus injury would work -- it might be permanent too, if that;s what you are after

EarlyBird · Jul 26, 2014

It would have to be a pretty severe injury for a hospital to keep someone overnight. I was hit by a drunk driver while I was riding a bike, and while I had a torn rotator, bulging cervical disk, a concussion, and tons of pain, I was released from the ER in a matter of hours.

Larry M · Jul 26, 2014

EarlyBird said:
It would have to be a pretty severe injury for a hospital to keep someone overnight. I was hit by a drunk driver while I was riding a bike, and while I had a torn rotator, bulging cervical disk, a concussion, and tons of pain, I was released from the ER in a matter of hours.

That's true. 30 some years ago, my brother had hernia surgery and he was in the hospital for several days. 3 years ago, I had the same surgery - in at 6 am, home medicated on the couch before noon.

PsylentProtagonist · Jul 26, 2014

You can blame medical advances and insurance for hospitals keeping people for shorter and shorter time periods. Fitting with your question, it depends on how debilitated you want the character.

A stroke would keep them in the hospital (observation) and limit their use of one side. It also brings recovery into question, because it depends on how quickly a person gets it treated and the type of stroke (bleed vs clot). You could also go for damage to the spine. Certain injuries to the neck can apply pressure to the spinal cord causing paralysis in a limb or more. Sicknesses and infection (Sepsis, pneumonia if the character is older).

MagicWriter · Jul 26, 2014

A crush injury would fulfill that.

saizine · Jul 26, 2014

Thanks so much, everyone! I've certainly got a nice and long reading list to look into now, and I'm looking forward to getting into it.

Possible arm/shoulder injury?

saizine

follow your bliss

mirandashell

Larry M

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

EarlyBird

Grinding it out

Larry M

PsylentProtagonist

American Vampire

MagicWriter

Attack of the Hurricane Turtles!

saizine

follow your bliss