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Simple and comminuted displaced olecranon fractures: a clinical comparison between tension band wiring and plate fixation techniques

  • Trauma Surgery
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this retrospective study is to compare the clinical, functional outcome and complications occurrence between tension band wiring (TBW) and plate fixation both for simple and comminuted displaced olecranon factures.

Materials and methods

Between January 2005 and June 2012 (minimum 1-year follow-up), 78 consecutive patients with Mayo type IIA and IIB fractures were treated with the following methods: tension band wire or plate and screws fixation. The primary outcome of this study was the functional outcome, assessed by the following self-administered evaluation scales: the disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand, and the Mayo Elbow Performance Score. Secondary outcome measures included the assessment of pain level, analysis of passive range of motion, and the occurrence of any early or late complications.

Results

Comparing the clinical results between the two groups, at mean 33 months follow-up, no significant differences in the functional and clinical outcome were observed. Complications were reported in 48 and 17 % of cases, following TBW and plate fixation in patients treated for type IIA fractures, and similarly in 40 and 23 % of cases in type IIB fractures, respectively. Hardware removal was more frequently performed in TBW group: 38 versus 17 % for type IIA fractures and 20 versus 6 % for type IIB fractures.

Conclusions

The findings of this study indicate that both with the use of TBW and plate fixation excellent/good clinical outcomes with minimal loss of physical capacity, little pain and disability can be obtained in the majority of patients with simple and comminuted displaced olecranon fractures. Hardware removal was most frequently observed after TBW.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic IV.

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Conflict of interest

All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via del Pozzo 71, 41124, Modena, Italy

    Luigi Tarallo, Raffaele Mugnai, Francesco Zambianchi & Fabio Catani

  2. Department of Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Roberto Adani

  3. Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Francesco Capra

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  1. Luigi Tarallo
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  2. Raffaele Mugnai
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  3. Roberto Adani
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  4. Francesco Capra
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Correspondence to Luigi Tarallo.

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Tarallo, L., Mugnai, R., Adani, R. et al. Simple and comminuted displaced olecranon fractures: a clinical comparison between tension band wiring and plate fixation techniques. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 134, 1107–1114 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-2021-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-2021-9

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