Complications and reoperations related to tension band wiring and plate osteosynthesis of olecranon fractures

Olecranon fractures are common and usually treated operatively either by tension band wiring (TBW) or plate fixation (PF). The aim of this study was to assess early complications and reoperations and their predictive factors related to those operative methods. A retrospective analysis of all patient...

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Published in:Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery Vol. 30; no. 10; pp. 2412 - 2417
Main Authors: Rantalaiho, Ida K., Laaksonen, Inari E., Ryösä, Anssi J., Perkonoja, Katariina, Isotalo, Kari J., Äärimaa, Ville O.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Inc 01.10.2021
Subjects:
complication
Kirschner wire placement
Mayo classification
Olecranon fracture
plate fixation
reoperation
tension band wire
Treatment Study
complication
tension band wire
Olecranon fracture
reoperation
plate fixation
Mayo classification
Retrospective Cohort Comparison
Level III
Kirschner wire placement
ISSN:1058-2746, 1532-6500, 1532-6500
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Olecranon fractures are common and usually treated operatively either by tension band wiring (TBW) or plate fixation (PF). The aim of this study was to assess early complications and reoperations and their predictive factors related to those operative methods. A retrospective analysis of all patients with an operatively treated olecranon fracture between 2007 and 2017 at Turku University hospital was performed. Reoperations, postoperative complications, and potential risk factors for these were recorded. A total of 434 patients (387 TBW and 47 PF) were identified. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of early complications (49% vs. 62%, P = .262) or reoperations (38% vs. 53%, P = .079) between patients treated with TBW and PF. In the TBW group, the intramedullary placement of Kirschner (K)-wires predisposed patients to complications compared to transcortical placement of the K-wires according to multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR] 1.94, P = .026). Younger age was associated with the frequency of reoperations, the odds decreasing 24% for every 10 years of age (P < .001). Further, patients with high-energy trauma mechanisms were reoperated more often compared to patients with low-energy trauma (OR 2.99, P = .002). Also, excellent postoperative reduction was associated with higher reoperation rate than good or fair reduction (OR 0.48, P = .033). There is a high risk of early complications and reoperations associated to both TBW and PF. Transcortical positioning of K-wires may reduce the rate of complications in TBW.
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ISSN:1058-2746
1532-6500
1532-6500
DOI:10.1016/j.jse.2021.03.138