• You-hua Wang, Ran Tao, Hua Xu, Yi Cao, Zhen-yu Zhou, and Shui-zhu Xu.
• Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China. wangyouhuant@yahoo.com.cn
• Orthop Surg. 2011 Aug 1; 3 (3): 176-80.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the mid-term outcomes of contoured plating for comminuted fractures of the olecranon.MethodsTwenty eight patients were available for analysis. Their mean age was 41 years (range, 25 to 61 years). Associated fractures were of the coronoid process in three, radial head in four, and both in three patients. A plate and screw system was used to stabilize comminuted fractures of the olecranon in all cases. Coronoid fractures were stabilized according to the fracture patterns. Displaced radial head fractures were treated with either mini-screw fixation or radial head replacement. Because of the severity of their fractures, 12 patients underwent primary bone grafting.ResultsPrimary stability was achieved in 25 of 28 cases. There were no cases of non-union. The mean time to union was 15 weeks (range, 12-22 weeks). The mean range of flexion of the elbow was from 14° to 125°, with 65° of pronation and 74° of supination. The end results were 6 excellent, 16 good, 4 fair and 2 poor, based on the Broberg and Morrey scale. The excellent plus good rate was 78.6%.ConclusionFavorable mid-term outcomes can be achieved by contoured plating of complex, comminuted fractures of the olecranon.© 2011 Tianjin Hospital and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

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