The complications of surgical treatment of displaced fractures of the olecranon.
Forty-eight patients who had undergone internal fixation of a displaced fracture of the olecranon by either a tension band technique (34 patients) or screwing (14 patients) were reviewed. The functional results after at least 2 years were equally good with both methods, but there was a considerably higher rate of separation at the fracture after screwing than after inserting a tension band. The technical quality of the fixation was open to criticism in half the cases in each group, and the implications of this are discussed.
Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatic Surgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne.
R H
RH
Helm
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R
Hornby
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SW
Miller
D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D000092464:Elbow Injuries