Epidemiological, Lesional, Therapeutic and Evolutionary Aspects of Olecranon Fractures

Abstract

Introduction: Olecranon fractures are the most frequent articular fractures of the elbow. Objective: The aim of our work is to study the epidemiological, lesional, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of olecranon fractures in the Orthopaedic-Traumatology Department of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Dakar. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective study over a period of 4 years, from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017, including 32 patients operated for a recent olecranon fracture using the pinning-hooking technique. Results: The series included 21 patients, 18 males and 3 females with an average age of 34 years (extremes 21 and 62 years). Road and traffic accidents were the leading cause with 09cases ie 43 percent. According to the Mayo Clinic classification, we observed 04 type I fractures (03 type IA and 01 type IB), 17 type II fractures (13 type IIA and 4 type IIB). The associated lesions were: skin openings with 03 cases (type I of Cauchoix and Duparc); section of the ulnar nerve; osteochondral and tendon fractures and lesions involving the elbow, forearm, radius and humerus. The average delay to consultation surgery was 13 days. Evaluation according to the modified Mayo Clinic criteria showed 80% good and excellent results and 20% fair results. The average follow-up was 3 years. Complications included 1 case of infection, 3 cases of secondary displacement, 2 cases of stiffness and 1 case of mal union. Conclusion: The treatment of olecranon fractures remains surgical and the technique of tension band wiring is the gold standard.