What is an Olecranon elbow fracture?
An Olecranon elbow fracture is when there is a break of the proximal part of the ulna. It’s the part of the ulna which articulates with the humerus bone. It can be sustained from either a fall or other similar type of injury.
Symptoms
The symptoms include pain and sometimes associated grazes around the elbow.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of this fracture is made with X-Rays and CT scans to have a closer look at the fracture configuration.
Treatments
Most Olecranon fracture treatments are operative. They generally involve plate and screw configurations to adequately fix the bone. There are some other low profile constructs which have been developed which can also assist in fracture healing without the need for the plate and screw configurations.
Outcomes
Outcomes for Olecranon fractures tend to be quite good. Especially with operative fixation. There are risks involved in the procedure which include bleeding, infection, damage to neurovascular structures and need for the plate to be removed after fracture is healed as it can cause hardware irritation. Non-operative management of this fracture is rare as early range of motion is essential for any elbow fracture.
RESOURCES
Helpful link(s):
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
