OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical characteristics of triceps brachii tendon rupture at olecranon ending.

METHODSFrom June 2005 to November 2011,19 patients with triceps brachii tendon rupture at olecranon ending were treated with surgical technique. Among the 19 patients, 7 patients were male, with an average age of 24.1 years old (ranged, 15 to 41 years old); 12 patients were female, with an average age of 51.4 years old (ranged, 16 to 73 years old). Eight patients had injuries in the left elbows, and 11 patients had injuries in right elbows. Seventeen patients had injuries induced by walking fall and 2 patients had injuries induced by falling down. Thirteen patients were simple triceps brachii tendon rupture at olecranon ending, 6 patients were associated with other elbow injuries. Five patients were associated with radial fracture; 1 patient with capitellum fracture; 1 patient with coronoid process fracture; 1 patient with epitrochlear. All the lateral radiographs of the injuried elbow demenstrated the flecks of avulsed osseous material from the olecranon (flake sign). The associated injuries had the homologus presence. All the patients were treated with surgical techniques:15 patients were treated with figure-of-eight tension-band wire; figure-of-eight tension band wire and Kirschner wire in 1 patient; wire cerclage in 1 patient; nonabsorbable suture in 2 patients. The associated injuries were treated simultaneously. Plaster was applied after operation in 2 patients with heavier elbow associated injuries, other patients without any external fixation. The Mayo elbow score were observed to determinate the function of the elbow.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, 1 patient died of other disease at one year after operation, the other 18 patients were followed up with an average of 47.9 months (ranged from 14 to 91 months). According to the Mayo elbow score, 16 patients got an excellent result and 2 good.

CONCLUSIONTraumatic rupture of triceps brachii tendon at olecranon ending is not a rare injury, which is common in female older than fifty and in male younger then thirty. Surgical results are generally excellent. But dysfunction frequently remains in patients with associated elbow injuries.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olecranon Process ; injuries ; Rupture ; Tendon Injuries ; surgery

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olecranon Process ; injuries ; surgery ; Suture Techniques ; Ulna Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study clinical effects of surgery for the treatment of Mayo II B comminuted fracture in ulna olecranon.

METHODSFrom May 2008 to March 2015, a total of 37 patients with Mayo II B comminuted fracture in ulua olecranon were treated, including 20 males and 17 females, ranging in age from 40 to 65 years old ,with an average of 53 years old. All the patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation within 4 to 7 days after injuries. All the patients had pain and functional disorder uf elbow joint. The X-ray and CT examination showed ulna olecranon comminuted fracture of Mayo II B. Postoperative complications were observed ,and Broberg-Morrey criteria was used tu evaluate therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up ,and the duraiton ranged from 9 to 30 months ,with a mean of 15 months. Two patients had surface infection around incision ,and were healed by changing dressings. No other complications occurred such as needle slipping to stimulate skin ,screw loosening and wire broken. One patient had slight uneveness of joint surface without obvious functional disorder. According to Broberg-Morrey elbow fracture curative effect criteria, 11 paients got an excellent result, 24 good and 2 fair,and the total score was 87.0 ± 7.3.

CONCLUSIONFor the Mayo II B comminuted fracture in ulna olecranon, preoperative preparation, intraoperative restoring of the articular surface smooth and reasonable internal fixation, and postoperative rehabilitation actively, can obtain satisfactory clinical effects.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Comminuted ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olecranon Process ; injuries ; Ulna Fractures ; surgery

Tuberculosis (TB) occurring after a closed bone fracture in the patient with no history of TB and no evidence of TB infection at the time of initial fracture is a rare entity. We report one such case of a 48-year-old female, who presented in the emergency department with an olecranon fracture which was open reduced and internally fixed with tension band wiring. Patient presented in the outpatient department with serosanguineous discharge at 3 weeks after surgery. The discharge was sent for culture and sensitivity tests, and the patient was managed by antibiotics and daily dressings. There was wound dehiscence and the underlying implant was exposed, which was removed at 12 weeks after surgery. Repeat debridements and dressings continued for 6 months, but the discharge from the wound site continued. X-rays of the elbow performed at 6 months raised the suspicion of TB, which was confirmed by Ziel-Neelsen staining and histopathological examination of the debrided tissue. Following the confirmation, patient was put on antitubercular drugs. The patient responded to antitubercular drug therapy (ATT), the purulent discharge from the wound ceased, and eventually the wound healed after 2 months of starting ATT.
Arthritis, Infectious ; etiology ; Elbow Joint ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Olecranon Process ; injuries ; Postoperative Complications ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; physiology ; Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effects by comparing three different fixation methods: tension band, hollow lag screw and anatomical plate.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to January 2012, 82 patients with olecranon fractures who underwent surgical treatments were followed-up. All the patients were divided into three groups: tension band fixation group (group A), hollow lag screw fixation group (group B), anatomical plate fixation (group C). In group A, there were 35 patients, including 19 males and 16 females, ranging in age from 32 to 49 years old, with an average of (43.6 ± 8.7) years old, and the patients were treated with tension band fixation. According to Colton classification, there were 5 cases of type I, 3 cases of type II A,19 cases of type II B, and 8 cases of type II C in group A. Among 20 patients in group B, there were 13 males and 7 females, ranging in age from 27 to 50 years old, with an average of (41.5 ± 9.3) years old. The patients in group B were treated with hollow lag screw fixation. According to Colton classification, there were 4 cases of type I, 4 cases of type II A, and 12 cases of type II B in group B. In group C, there were 27 patients totally, including 15 males and 12 females, ranging in age from 30 to 55 years old, with an average of (38.2 ± 6.2) years old. The patients in group C were treated with anatomical plate fixation. According to Colton classification, there were 4 cases of type II B, 13 cases of type II C, and 10 cases of type II D in group C. The Fracture healing time, complications and functional recovery were retrospectively observed and recorded.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 8 to 24 months, with an average of 15 months. The average healing time of patients in group C was the longest among three groups. The flexion-extension and rotation activities of elbow joint in group B and C were better than that in group C. According to Broberg & Morrey score system, the therapeutic effects of patients in group A and B were better than that of group C. In group C, 2 patients had incision infections, 6 patients complained of foreign body sensation, 1 patient got a delayed fracture healing, and 1 patient had the heterotopic ossification. There were no occurrences of incision infections in group A and B; internal fixation loosening occurred in 3 patients in group A and 2 patients in group B; delayed fracture healing occurred in 2 patients in group A and 2 patients in group B; and skin bursa formation occurred in 6 patients in group A and 1 patient in group B.

CONCLUSIONAll the three ways are effective methods for the treatment of olecranon fractures. Fixation methods should be selected depending on the type of fracture.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Bone Screws ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olecranon Process ; injuries ; Ulna Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo prospectively evaluate the clinical result of Cable-Pin system in the treatment of olecranon fractures and compare with tension band wiring (TBW) method.

METHODSFrom March 2008 to June 2010,65 patients with olecranon fractures were divided into two groups: 32 patients in Cable-Pin group were treated with Cable-Pin system, including 18 males and 14 females, ranging in age from 21 to 69 years, with an average of (53.69 +/- 13.42) years; 33 patients in TBW group were treated with Kirschner tension bend, including 20 males and 13 females, ranging in age from 20 to 70 years, with an average of (53.18 +/- 13.36) years. The incision length, operation time, the amounts of hemoglobin after operation, fracture healing time, complications and HSS elbow scores were recorded and analyzed statistically. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 24 months, with an average period of 18.4 months.

RESULTSThere were statistical differences (P<0.05) in fracture healing time (t= 2.588, P=0.012), complication rate (chi2=4.534, P=0.033) and HSS elbow joint scores (Z=-2.039, P=0.041) between two groups, which all were superior to TBW in Cable-Pin group. There was no statistical differences (P>0.05) in the length of incision (t= 0.416, P=0.679), operation time (t=0.816, P=0.417) and the postoperative amounts of hemoglobin (t=-0.553, P=0.294) between two groups.

CONCLUSIONCable-Pin system is an easy and reliable method for the treatment of olecranon fractures with less complications and better functions than TBW.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Nails ; Bone Wires ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olecranon Process ; injuries ; Prospective Studies

The result of clinical survey of seventy-five children with supracondylar fractures of the humerus is presented. Sixty-eight fractures had gross displacement, and seven were undisplaced ones. Seven children with undisplaced fractures were treated with simple splinting. Twenty-one fractures with gross displacement were closedly reduced and immobilized by cast. Twenty cases treated with over-head skin traction or skeletal traction, and followed by cast immobilization, and twenty-seven were operatively reduced and were fixed with 2 K-wires. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The average age of children was 6.8 years, and the male and female ratio was 2.1:l. 2. 97.1% (66 cases) was the extension type and 2.9% (2 cases) was the flexion type. 3. Good end results were obtained in the well-reduced groups, such as undisplaced fractures and surgically reduced fractures. Of 27 operated cases, 19 who had early operation without manipulative trial or traction, had excellent results, while 8 who had surgery in delay developed limitation of flexion and/or extension motion of the elbow. Of these 19, two cases developed mild extension limitation as sequella. 4. As complications, incomplete ulnar nerve palsy developed in one case, but it spontaneously recovered in 3 weeks after open reduction. During treatment utilizing the olecranon pin traction, pin tract infection developed in 2 cases, but the infection was controlled by the antibiotic administration and wound dressing. Severe cubitus varus deformity developed in 4 cases among the conservatively treated group (manipulatively reduced group and skeletal traction group). These 4 children had corrective osteotomy. Mild deformity was the inevitable one when it is treated conservatively. Limitation of elbow motion developed in 23 cases (32%) as a sequella. 5. Fracture healed mostly in three weeks after reduction and immobilization. Average hospital stay for conservatively treated patients was 17.2 days, whereas that for surgically treated patients was 5.8 days in average. 6. Early anatomical reduction by any means whether it is surgical or nonsurgical, proved to be only the methods which bring the satisfactory results, and minimize the sequellae.
Bandages ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Elbow ; Female ; Humans ; Humerus ; Immobilization ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Olecranon Process ; Osteotomy ; Skin ; Splints ; Traction ; Ulnar Neuropathies ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: Olecranon fractures are particularly vulnerable to distraction and subsequent fracture dislocation due to the high tensile forces. Surgical treatment aims at reducing the fracture and restoring the anatomical joint surface condition, as well as neutralizing the strain inhibiting fracture healing. The XS nail® (Intercus GmbH, Bad Blankenberg, Germany), an intramedullary implant exerting compression across the entire fracture surface, unlike plates, leaves a minimal extra-cortical profile, and can be secured with threaded locking wires, thereby retaining the anatomical reduction without displacement or steps within the articular surface, which was often found in tension band wiring. After encouraging initial results, the long-term outcome was assessed. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated the long-term outcome of patients surgically treated at our trauma center between January 2002 and December 2005 using the XS nail®. Patients over the age of 18 years eligible for the study must have undergone surgery for isolated, recent (less than 14 days) traumatic olecranon fractures, without concomitant injuries to the ipsilateral elbow and forearm. Further exclusion criteria were pseudarthrosis, re-fractures and osteotomy for distal humerus surgery, as well as polytraumatized patients unable to aid in their own recovery. Data were retrospectively gathered by standardised questionnaire and patient records, as well as surgery and anesthesiology reports. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel® 2016. RESULTS: There were 32 patients, 13 males (mean age 49.0 years) and 19 females (mean age 68.9 years) with 11 Schatzkers type D, 7 each type A and C, 5 type B and 2 type E at an average of 55.2 months, all showing complete consolidation. Of them, 6 patients had a loss of range of motion with more than 10° in the sagittal plane, and only 1 patient exceeded 10° reduction of supination. Twenty-five patients reported being pain-free under all circumstances, and all but 2 patients (93.75%) had returned to their previous activity level. The average disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand score was 21.15 (range 0-88.3), and the overall Mayo elbow performance index was 91.87, without complications, such as wound infection, neurovascular impairment or premature hardware removal. CONCLUSION Using the XS nail® system, all fracture types can be successfully treated and the rate of complications was lower than that treated by standard methods published in current literature. An excellent functional outcome, high range of motion as well as good retention of reduction without soft tissue irritation makes this a very suitable implant for fractures subject to tension.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Olecranon Process/injuries* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ulna Fractures/surgery* ; Bone Wires ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Fractures, Bone ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Treatment Outcome ; Elbow Injuries