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.
Helm
R H
RH
Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatic Surgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Hornby
R
R
Miller
S W
SW
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