OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of Kirschner wire tension band with hole and common Kirschner wire tension band in the treatment of olecranon fractures in adults, so as to guide the selection of clinical surgical procedures.

METHODSFrom July 2011 to October 2015, a total of 49 patients with olecranon fractures underwent open reduction and fixation with Kirschner wire tension band, which were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 49 patients, 21 patients(group A) were treated with Kirschner wire tension band with hole, including 12 males and 9 females, with an average age of(37.6 ±8.2) years old;28 patients(group B) were treated with common Kirschner wire, including 18 males and 10 females, with an average age of(38.9±7.3) years old. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in general data. The differences of operative duration, frequency of radiation, fracture healing time, complications and postoperative elbow function scores between the two groups were observed and analyzed by parallel statistical analysis.

RESULTSIn group A, the operative duration was(60.4±10.7) min, the average number of radiation times was (12.5±2.9); in group B, the operative duration was (62.3±11.8) min, and the average radiation times was(13.7±3.8); there was no significant difference in operative time and radiation times between the two groups (P >0.05). In group A, the fracture healing time was (13.2±2.6) weeks without K-wire migration, skin irritation and other complications; and fracture healing time in group B was(14.6±1.8) weeks with complications(K-wire migration in 6 cases, skin irritation in 7 cases, internal fixation failure in 2 cases);the fracture healing time of group A was shorter than that in group B. Evaluation of elbow joint function in two groups of patients after operation showed that in group A, pain score was 41.0±3.5, movement function score was 18.0±2.1, stability score was 9.0±0.8, daily activities score was 18.0±4.3, the total average score was 87.0±7.8; and in group B, the pain score was 39.0±5.6, movement function score was 17.0±3.2, the stability score was 8.0±2.4, daily activities score was 16.0±5.2, the total average score was 83.0±10.7. There were no statistically significant in the scores between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with ordinary Kirschner wire, the treatment of olecranon fracture with Kirschner tension band with hole can shorten the time of fracture healing, significantly reduce the occurrence of complications, and do not affect the recovery of postoperative function, which is suitable for clinical use.