No abstract available.
Olecranon Process* ; Ulna*

Treatment of the olecranon fractures by prolonged immobilization often results in limited elbow motion. With the use of tension band wiring, anatomical reduction was obtainable, and only a short period of immobilization was needed. We reviewed the cases of 17 patients who underwent surgical treatment of the olecranon fracture. All patients were treated by tension band wiring. In the overall series, we were able to obtain 53 percent excellent, 30 percent good, and 18 percent fair results.
Elbow ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Olecranon Process*

1. The author found that the characteristic radiologic finding of the flexion-valgus type of supracondylar fracture of humerus in children is Y shape bifurcation of the distal end of proximal fragment on lateral view. 2. Thirteen cases were identified as the flexion-valgus type from among the 224 cases of supracondylar fracture. 3. Thirteen cases of flexion valgus type were classified into five types. 1) Dome shape fracture, along the upper border of the olecranon fossa-5 cases. 2) Transverse fracture, proximal to the olecranon fossa-2 cases. 3) Oblique fracture, through the posterior wall of supraconlylar-2 cases. 4) Oblique fracture, through the distal end of lateral column-3 cases. 5) Oblique frarture with partial injury of epiphyseal line of lateral condyle-1 case.
Child ; Humans ; Humerus ; Olecranon Process

Bone age is important to evaluate growth status and remaining growth. The Greulich and Pyle atlas is widely used and is so far the most common assessment method of bone age. However, this technique has some limitations, especially during puberty : (1) 11.5 and 12.5 years of bone age in girls and 14.5 years of bone age in boys are not represented in the atlas ; (2) Hand and wrist radiographs are difficult to assess between 11 and 13 years of bone age in girls and between 13 and 15 years of bone age in boys. Sauvegrain et al. developed a method to assess bone age by using elbow radiographs(AP& lateral projections) during pubertal age. Between 11 and 13 years of bone age in girls and between 13 and 15 years of bone age in boys, the olecranon apophysis is characterized by clear morphological development. This method is a reliable tool to assess bone age during puberty because significant morphological changes in the elbow happened every six months.
Elbow ; Hand ; Olecranon Process ; Puberty ; Wrist

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to report the outcome of treatment of humeral shaft fracture with retrograde intramedullary nail of advanced insertion opening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2005 and August 2012, 22 patients with a humeral shaft fracture were treated by a single surgeon using the technique of retrograde intramedullary nail at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital (Seoul, Korea). To avoid causing fractures at the insertion site, the entry point was more distally located than conventionally, and was extended proximally to include the proximal marginal cortex of the olecranon fossa. The outcome was evaluated clinically and radiologically. RESULTS: The mean period of achievement of bony was 5.8 months (4-11 months). Additional fixations were needed in one patient with intraoperative lateral condylar fracture and 2 patients with postoperative nonunion. There were no limitations of movement or pain in the shoulder joint, and 8 cases had a 6.5degrees flexion contracture on average. CONCLUSION: This retrograde intramedullary fixation technique using a distal entry portal near the olecranon fossa is particularly useful in humeral shaft fractures without a neurovascular injury. The risk of an intraoperative fracture (supracondylar fracture or fracture around the entry portal) can be decreased using this treatment. We recommend this technique because of the safety and the satisfactory outcome.
Contracture ; Humans ; Olecranon Process ; Orthopedics ; Shoulder Joint

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical results of Acutrak screw fixation for ulnar olecranon fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 15 cases of ulnar olecranon fractures which were treated with Acutrak screws from February 2003 to September 2007. Follow-up period is from 12 months to 42 months. We used Mayo classification. Radiologic results were analyzed according to step-off, gap, reduction loss, and functional results were analyzed according to pain and ROM. We analyzed union time, operation time, incision size and complications. RESULTS: In functional results, there were 3 good cases out of 3 Mayo type IA, 8 good cases and 2 fair cases out of 10 type IIA, 1 fair case and 1 poor case out of 2 type IIB. In radiologic results, there was 1 case of reduction loss. Average union time was 9.4 weeks, average operation time was 24 minutes and average incision size was 1.8 cm. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Acutrak screw fixation can be a treatment option for olecranon fracture of Mayo type IA and IIA.
Follow-Up Studies ; Olecranon Process ; Ulna

Traumatic dislocation of the radial head without fracture of the olecranon is very rare, especially in adults. We experienced a case of irreducible radial head dislocation with fracture without involvement of ulna. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed. During surgery, brachialis was interposed between capitellum and radial head, and also interposed between the fragments at the fracture site of the radial head. At 12 months after operation, the radial head was well reduced with normal rotation.
Adult* ; Dislocations* ; Head* ; Humans ; Olecranon Process ; Ulna

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anatomy of the ulnar nerve according to the degree of elbow flexion and to obtain optimal elbow position for ulnar nerve conduction study. METHODS: Eleven elbows in nine cadavers were dissected. We estimated the 10 cm elbow segment to be the distance between 2 points, 4 cm distal and 6 cm proximal to the center of the cubital tunnel, which was determined to be the halfway point between the medial epicondyle and olecranon with elbow position in extension and 45o, 90o, 135o flexion. Anatomical measurements of the actual length of ulnar nerve, distance between medial epicondyle and ulnar nerve, and distance between medial epicondyle and olecranon were obtained in each position. The actual length of the ulnar nerve was measured between two points of the ulnar nerve closest to the landmarks of the estimated 10 cm with flexible ligature. RESULTS: The actual lengths of ulnar nerve were 10.23 cm, 10.00 cm, 9.44 cm, and 9.08 cm in elbow extension, and 45o, 90o, 135o flexion, respectively. The difference between actual length and estimated lengths were least in 45o elbow flexion (p=0.0001). The distance between medial epicondyle and olecranon increased with increasing elbow flexion (p=0.0001). However, there was no difference in the distance between medial epicondyle and ulnar regardless of the elbow position. As a result, the ulnar nerve seemed to have migrated anteriorly in the cubital tunnel with increasing elbow flexion. CONCLUSION: This study suggest that the optimal angle in ulnar nerve conduction study would be 45o flexion, under the condition that the distance measurement is through the halfway point between the medial epicondyle and olecranon.
Cadaver ; Elbow* ; Ligation ; Olecranon Process ; Ulnar Nerve*

Anatomically olecranon fracture is an intra-articular fracure, so reduction must be exact. Using the principle of Zuggurtungsosteosynthese by Weber, Pauwels' clinical study of olecranon fracture showed the superiority of tension band. 15 patients with olecranon fracture of the ulna who were treated with tension band and could be followed at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery of Han Il Hospital from January, 1974 to December, 1980 have been reviewed. The result obtained is as follows. We obtained the more rigid fixation with modifying the standard tension band locating the end of K-wire in the cortex of opposite side cortex of ulna. So, the result of treatment was satisfactory.
Clinical Study ; Humans ; Olecranon Process ; Orthopedics ; Ulna

We have experienced 52 intra-articular fractures(24 malleolar, 17 patellar, 11 olecranon) treated with tension band wiring from 1972 to 1981 and the results are as followings; 1. The operative technique is relatively simple and easy. 2. In avulsion fractures without communition, anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation can be achieved. 3. In comminuted fractures, the fragments can be securely fixed with a few additional K-wires including tension band wiring. 4. In avulsion fractures, where the fragment is either too small for screw fixation or too osteoporotic a tension band wiring can be applied with no difficulty. 5. Early joint motion reduces the functional disability and promote the fracture healing.
Fracture Healing ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Joints ; Olecranon Process