Olecranon fractures. A clinical and radiographic comparison of tension band wiring and plate fixation.

Forty-one adult patients with displaced olecranon fractures were treated with open reduction internal fixation in a prospective, randomized study comparing tension band wiring (TBW) and plate fixation (PF). Plate fixation required longer operative time, but did not lead to an increased complication rate. Range of elbow motion at six months did not differ significantly between the two groups. Symptomatic metal prominence was frequently observed after TBW (42%), although true Kirschner wire (K-wire) migration was seen in only one patient. Postoperative loss of reduction, leading to a significant articular step-off or gap, was more frequent after TBW (53%) than after PF (5%). Tension band wiring resulted in 37% good clinical and 47% good roentgenographic results, as compared with PF, which resulted in 63% good clinical and 86% good roentgenographic results. Plate fixation should be carefully considered when planning open reduction and internal fixation of displaced olecranon fractures.