OSTEOSYNTHESIS BY TENSION BAND WIRING OF DISPLACED FRACTURES OF THE OLECRANON

Fifty-two displaced olecranon fractures in adults were treated over a 5-year period. Minimum follow-up was 6 months. Forty-eight fractures were operated and 38 were treated by tension band wiring technique. This technique, applied for all types of fractures, gave good functional results in 33 cases (87 %) and fair functional results in 5 cases. Complications include 1 pseudarthrosis, 2 loss of reduction, 2 transient tourniquet palsy and 13 skin problems due to wire protrusion. Tension band wiring is a simple safe and effective technique for displaced olecranon fractures but often requires K-wire removal.