Comparison of tension band wiring and plate fixation in Mayo type 2A olecranon fractures
Ceyhun Çağlar1, Serhat Akçaalan1, Halil İbrahim Özaslan1, Hilal Yağar2, Mahmut Uğurlu3
1Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
2Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Yozgat City Hospital, Yozgat, Turkey
3Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey
Keywords: Elbow surgery, Mayo classification, olecranon fixation, olecranon fracture, plate fixation, tension band wiring
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to compare clinically and functionally patients who had previously undergone tension band wiring (TBW) or plate fixation (PF) procedure due to the diagnosis of Mayo type 2A olecranon fracture in our clinic.
Patients and methods: Data of 92 patients (51 males, 41 females; mean age 42.3±12.6 years; range, 16 to 75 years) operated on for olecranon fractures between January 2014 and December 2018 were recorded retrospectively. Forty-four patients received TBW and 48 patients received PF treatment. Their Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) and Mayo scores and elbow range of motion (ROM) measurements were used for clinical and functional evaluations. Data including the time to return to work, revision rate, and follow-up time were also recorded.
Results: The mean follow-up time was 38.2±17.2 months. Patients returned to work in 9.2±4.1 weeks in the TBW group and 7.8±3.6 weeks in the PF group (p=0.279). The revision rate was 14% in the TBW group and 2% in the PF group (p=0.335). The mean DASH score was 10.0±1.8 in the TBW group and 7.7±1.2 in the PF group (p=0.001). The mean Mayo score was 84.0±9.3 in the TBW group and 88.3±9.1 in the PF group (p=0.049). For elbow flexion-extension ROM, 4° of difference was measured in favor of the PF group (p=0.043). Mean Mayo score, mean DASH score, and mean flexion-extension ROM values were statistically significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusion: Both surgical techniques are suitable and reliable in the treatment of olecranon fractures. Although TBW treatment is low-cost and simple to apply, its biggest disadvantage is a high rate of secondary surgery for implant removal due to irritation of the skin.
Citation: Çağlar C, Akçaalan S, Özaslan Hİ, Yağar H, Uğurlu M. Comparison of tension band wiring and plate fixation in Mayo type 2A olecranon fractures. Jt Dis Relat Surg 2021;32(1):85-92.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.