title: Outcome after olecranon fracture repair: Does construct type matter?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compares clinical and functional outcomes of patients with displaced olecranon fractures treated with either tension band wiring (TBW) or a hook plate construct.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of olecranon fractures operatively treated with either TBW or plate fixation (PF) using a hook plate over a 7-year period. Patient demographics, injury information, and surgical management were recorded. Fractures were classified according to the Mayo system. Measured outcomes included range of elbow motion, time to union, and development of postoperative complications. Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI) scores were obtained for all patients. All patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 48 patients were included in this study, 23 treated with TBW and 25 treated with hook PF. Groups did not differ with respect to patient demographics, Mayo fracture type, or duration of follow-up. Patients undergoing PF had less terminal extension than TBW patients (-8.6° ± 7° vs. -3.5° ± 9.3°, p = 0.036) and a longer time to radiographic union (19 ± 8 vs. 12 ± 6 weeks, p = 0.001). There were no differences in rates of symptomatic hardware, MEPI scores, or other clinical outcomes. Two patients in each group required a second surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TBW and PF of olecranon fractures had similarly excellent functional outcomes in this study. Patients undergoing PF had a longer time to union and slightly worse extension at final follow-up. TBW remains an effective treatment for appropriately selected olecranon fractures and in this cohort outperformed plate osteosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 East 17th Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Edward M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: DelSole
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 East 17th Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA. christian.pean@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7445-1152
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pean
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 East 17th Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Nirmal C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Tejwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, 301 East 17th Street, New York, NY, 10003, USA. kenneth.egol@nyumc.org.
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Egol
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056740:Olecranon Process / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Clinical outcomes; Hook plate; Olecranon fixation; Olecranon fracture; Tension band wiring