Objective To review the efficacy of reconstruction plate combined with tension band wiring for treating proximal ulna and olecranon fractures. Methods Between November 2004 and September 2009, 10 patients with proximal ulna and olecranon fractures were treated by reconstruction plate combined with tension band wiring. There were 6 males and
4 females with an average age of 45.3 years (range, 21-75 years). Five fractures were caused by traffic accident, 2 by fall ing from height, 2 by tumbl ing, and 1 by a machine strangulation. The locations were the left side and the right side in 5 cases respectively. One case was open fracture (Gustilo II) and the other 9 were closed fractures. Olecranon fractures included 4 cases of traverse fractures and 6 cases of comminuted fractures, and proximal ulna fractures included 6 cases of comminuted fractures and 4 cases of obl ique fractures. The combined fractures included 6 radial head fractures, 4 coronoid process fractures, 2 proximal humerus fractures, and 3 scapula fractures; other injury included 1 elbow dislocation and 1 shoulder dislocation. Two patients had secondary operation; the other 8 patients received the primary operations and the time from injury to operation varied from 7 days to 20 days, with an average of 11 days. Results One case had infection at the incision 1 week after operation, and recovered after 2 months of antibiotics and debridement; incisions healed by first intention in other 9 patients. All patients were followed up 12-64 months (mean, 40.5 months). The X-ray films showed that fracture heal ing was achieved at 10-24 weeks (mean, 12 weeks). There was no ulnar nerve symptom in all cases. Heterotopic ossification occurred in 1 case at 2 months and stiffness of the elbow in 1 case at 3 months after operation; they were both cured after symptomatic treatment. Proximal migration of Kirschner wires was found in 1 case at 6 months after operation, whose implants were taken out at 9 months after the first operation because fracture had healed. At last follow-up, the flexion and extension arc of the elbow averaged 92.8°
(range, 23-130°), and the arc of forearm rotation averaged 124.4° (range, 42-175°). According to the American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) evaluation method, the results were classified as excellent in 6 cases, good in 2, fair in 1, and poor in 1. Conclusion Treating proximal ulna and olecranon fractures by reconstruction plate combined with tension band wiring allows patients to do postoperative exercise early and could effectively avoid compl ications.
Citation： TENG Lin,ZHONG Gang,XIAO Cong,LIU Gang,XIANG Zhou,CEN Shiqiang,HUANG Fuguo.. TREATMENT OF PROXIMAL ULNA AND OLECRANON FRACTURES BY RECONSTRUCTION PLATE COMBINED WITH TENSION BAND WIRING. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2011, 25(1): 17-20. doi: Copy