Treatment of Olecranon Fractures with Proximal Ulna Comminution Using Locking Compression Plates

Ki-Do Hong; Tae-Ho Kim; Jae-Cheon Sim; Sung-Sik Ha; Min-Chul Sung; Jong-Hyun Jeon

doi:10.12671/jkfs.2015.28.1.59

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Hong, Kim, Sim, Ha, Sung, and Jeon: Treatment of Olecranon Fractures with Proximal Ulna Comminution Using Locking Compression Plates

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2015; 28(1): 59-64.

Published online: 20 January 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2015.28.1.59

Treatment of Olecranon Fractures with Proximal Ulna Comminution Using Locking Compression Plates

Ki-Do Hong, M.D., Tae-Ho Kim, M.D., Jae-Cheon Sim, M.D., Sung-Sik Ha, M.D., Min-Chul Sung, M.D., Jong-Hyun Jeon, M.D.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sahmyook Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Tae-Ho Kim, M.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sahmyook Medical Center, 82 Mangu-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-711, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2210-3324, Fax: 82-2-2212-2673, crash1401@naver.com

Received 12 December 2014 Revised 24 December 2014 Accepted 24 December 2014

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical results of locking compression plate (LCP) fixation for olecranon fractures with proximal ulna comminution.

Materials and Methods

We review 10 cases of olecranon fractures with proximal ulna comminution treated with LCPs from August 2011 to August 2013. Follow-up period was from 12 months to 18 months. Mean age was 63.1 years (35-84 years). According to the Mayo classification, there were eight type IIB, and two type IIIB fractures. We used Mayo classification. Clinical evaluation was performed based on radiographic union of olecranon and measurements of range of motion at last follow-up. Disability of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score and Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) were used for evaluation of functional recovery.

Results

All patients had bone union. According to the MEPS, nine of ten patients had a good or excellent outcome. The mean DASH score was 18.6. All cases started postoperative range of motion (ROM) within 14 days. Elbow ROM was more than 110° in all cases except one. Mean radiological bony union time was 4.2 months (2.5-6.0 months) postoperatively. Complication was hardware irritation in three patients.

Conclusion

Internal fixation using LCP for olecranon fractures with proximal ulna comminution can be a good treatment option which obtains good clinical results and enables early ROM.

Keywords: Olecranon fractures, Internal fixation using locking compression plate, Early range of motion

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

(A) Radiographs show olecranon fracture of type IIIB with proximal ulna comminution. (B) Radiographs show internal fixation of olecranon fracture with locking compression plate postoperatively.

Fig. 2

(A) Radiographs show olecranon fracture of type IIB with proximal ulna comminution. (B) Three-dimensional reconstructed computed tomography scan shows olecranon fracture of type IIA with proximal ulna comminution. (C) Radiographs show internal fixation of olecranon fracture with locking compression plate (LCP) postoperatively. (D) Radiographs of postoperative 12 months show LCP with good congruity of the elbow.

Table 1

Data of the Patients

ROM: Range of motion.

Notes

Financial support: None.

Conflict of interest: None.

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