Treatment of olecranon fracture by using tension band suture instead of tension band wiring

Abstract

                                                                                                               Abstract

           Background: Displaced olecranon fractures often require surgery. Traditional methods of stabilization using tension band wire fixation and plate fixation achieve adequate union and function but are associated with a high rate of re-operation and wound problems because of prominent metalwork          

           Objectives: Proposed tension band suture instead of tension band wiring in the case of displaced simple olecranon fracture for reducing wound problems thatlead to reoperation.

           Methodology: The study used a comparative research design to describe tension band suture technique for fixation of simple olecranon fractures and compare duration of surgery, estimated blood loss, post-operative elbow range of motion, duration of union fracture and re-operation rate between tension band suture and tension band wiring. The data were analyzed using frequency, mean, standard deviation, median, Mann-Whitney test, t-test and chi-square.

           Results: Duration of surgery, estimated blood loss, elbow extension after 6 weeks of surgery and duration of union fracture were not statistically significant difference between both methods. However, elbow flexion after 6 weeks of surgery, tension band suture is better than tension band wiring with statistically significant. No one has to re-operation in tension band suture.

           Conclusions: Tension band suture can treat simple displaced olecranon fractures instead of tension band wiring.

Keywords: olecranon fracture, tension band suture, tension band wiring