title: Pediatric olecranon fractures: open reduction and internal fixation with removable Kirschner wires and absorbable sutures.
abstract: The authors present an original fixation technique for pediatric olecranon fractures that avoids reoperation to remove hardware as compared with the standard fixation technique with Kirschner wires and tension band wiring as advocated by the AO technique. The authors' technique uses two percutaneously placed Kirschner wires to fixate displaced transverse and oblique olecranon fractures. Prior to the insertion of the wires, the fracture is reduced through a standard open approach. Augmentation of the pin fixation is achieved with absorbable sutures. Six patients have been treated with this technique, with a mean follow-up of 13 months. No immediate complications have been noted; one patient has a loss of extension of 10 degrees at the elbow. Radiographic results are good, with no loss of reduction. This technique avoids the need for reoperation for hardware removal without compromising the quality of reduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Soroka Medical Center, the Goldman School of Medicine, the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel. yair@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Yair
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gortzak
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mercado
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atar
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Weisel
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000293:Adolescent; D001864:Bone Wires; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020878:Device Removal; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*