Journal of Islamic International Medical College (Dec 2021)
Tension Band Wiring for Displaced and Uncomminuted Fractures of the Olecranon
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the functional results of tension band wiring in patients with olecranon fractures. Place and Duration of Study: Department of trauma and orthopedics Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi from December 2017 to June 2018. Study Design: Prospective case series. Materials and Methods: We included 62 patients having closed fracture of olecranon process. Brief history regarding the fracture duration, presence of infection, smoking habits and comorbids such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus was obtained. Tension band wiring for the olecranon fracture was performed after patients met the inclusion criteria. Final results were assessed at the end of three months postoperatively using mayo elbow performance score (parameters include: pain (45 points), motion arc (20 points), stability (10 points), and daily function (25 points) with a maximum of 100 points. A score of 90-100 points was considered as excellent, good 75-89, fair 60-74 and poor score of less than 60 points. Excellent and good results were considered as satisfactory. Results: Mean age of the patients was 35.03±7.87 years. There were less female patients (n=23, 37.1%) as compared to male (n=39, 62.9%) patients. Mean fracture duration of 2.97 + 1.28 days was observed while mean mayo elbow performance scale (MEPS) was found to be 83.11 + 10.02. According to Mayo Elbow Performance scale excellent and good functional results found in 51(82.26%) cases were considered as satisfactory outcome. Satisfactory outcome was significantly higher in patients belonging to ≤30 years age group in contrast to above 30 years of age patients (p=0.037). Results were not significantly related to gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking and obese cases. Significant association was found with duration of fracture. Conclusion: Tension band wiring is an effective way of treating olecranon fractures particularly those which are displaced and un-comminuted and provide good to excellent functional results in most cases.
