A Clinical Study on Surgical Management of Olecranon Fractures

Abstract

BACKGROUND Olecranon fractures are one of the most commonly seen orthopaedic injuries in the emergency room. Fractures of the Olecranon process of the Ulna typically occurs as a result of a motor-vehicle or motorcycle accident, a fall, or assault. The accepted management for Olecranon fractures is for non-displaced fractures short immobilization followed by gradually increasing range of motion. When displaced, open reduction and internal fixation with k-wires and figure of eight tension band wiring for simple transverse fractures and olecranon hook plate for comminuted fractures The present study is undertaken to evaluate the results of surgical management, the merits and demerits and to asses elbow joint motion and stability after the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present study consists of 25 cases of fracture olecranon treated by Tension band wiring with Kirschner wire for Simple transverse fractures and Olecranon hook plate for Comminuted fractures. RESULTS The results were evaluated according to the Mayo elbow performance score. The results obtained in our series were excellent in 18 (72%) patients, good in 4 (16%) patients, fair in 3 (12%) patients and no poor results. CONCLUSION From the present study it is concluded, that the technique of open reduction and internal fixation with Kirschner wires and tension band wiring for simple transverse and oblique fractures and olecranon plate fixation for comminuted fractures are effective means and gold standard technique of treating fractures of olecranon and is based on sound biomechanical principle.