Olecranon Fracture – Elbow Fracture
The elbow joint is the most complex joint in the body. Three bones are involved in the joint.
What is an Olecranon Fracture?
An olecranon fracture is a type of elbow fracture. It is the most common fracture of the elbow.
Olecranon Fracture
What are the Causes of an Olecranon Fracture?
An olecranon fracture usually occurs due to a direct fall onto the tip of the elbow. The fracture is caused by hyperextension of the elbow.
How is an Olecranon Fracture Treated?
To preserve joint function, surgical correction should be performed if there is significant step-off in the joint.
Two methods are commonly used for olecranon fractures:
- Tension band osteosynthesis:
Here, two wires are inserted parallel to each other over the tip of the olecranon. The fractured fragment is fixed to the bone shaft of the ulna. Additionally, a cerclage wire loop is applied.
- Plate osteosynthesis:
If multiple fracture fragments are present, plating of the olecranon should be performed to hold all fractured bone parts of the joint surface in the correct position.
Radial Head Fracture – Elbow Fracture
At the elbow-side end of the radius, a joint fracture, specifically a radial head fracture, or a radial neck fracture can occur. The latter affects the bone region just below the joint area.
What are the Causes of a Radial Head Fracture?
Radial head fractures usually occur due to a fall onto the wrist with an extended elbow joint, often bilaterally.
How is a Radial Head Fracture Treated?
Radial Head Fracture – Surgery
If there is a displacement of the joint surface with a step-off exceeding 2mm, surgical correction should be recommended for active individuals. Under arthroscopic magnification, the fracture is brought into the correct position and held with 2-3 mini-screws of 1-1.5mm diameter.
Postoperatively, an elbow splint must be worn for protection, which allows joint movements, enabling rapid restoration of joint mobility.
If the radial head is too damaged to be reconstructed, a joint replacement must be performed. In this procedure, I implant the radial head prosthesis with bone cement into the radial shaft.
Radial Neck Fracture – Elbow Fracture
Radial Neck Fracture – Surgery
Radial neck fractures also occur due to a fall onto the wrist with an extended elbow joint. If there is significant angulation of the head fragment, surgery should be performed. This may involve applying a small titanium plate, which holds the fracture in the correct position, or threading the fracture through the bone shaft with a special thin titanium nail, which provides an “internal splinting” of the fracture.
To be distinguished from elbow fractures is elbow dislocation.
Dr. Mark Schurz
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