WIRELESS TENSION BAND WIRING FOR OLECRANON FRACTURES. Case Series.

Abstract

This retrospective study evaluates the results of wireless tension band wire (WTBW) which is a modified technique of tension band wires (TBW) for Mayo type II A and III A olecranon fractures. In this technique the K-wires of the TBW are replaced by a cerclage wire while keeping the figure of eight wiring.

Material and methods: We reviewed retrospectively our WTBW cases done between 2000 and 2015 where we replaced the K-wires by a cerclage wire. In this technique no hardware migration is possible. Patients were evaluated clinically, radiographicaly and a DASH score was measured.

Results: Seventeen patients were reviewed with a mean age of 58.5 years. The mean follow-up period was 58.5 months. The mean DASH score was 12 with 7 patients having a DASH score of zero. Joint mobility was near normal compared to the other side with loss of a mean of 4º in elbow extension and a mean of 3º in elbow flexion. In comparison with other series, in addition to good results, hardware removal for medical reasons was the lowest in our technique. It was needed in three patients for pain on elbow contact and in one with ulnar nerve irritation. This represents a rate of 23.5%.

Conclusion: Undesirable events related to the use of K-wires in standard tension band wiring, such as wire migration, wire protrusion through the skin and wire impingement, are absent in the wireless tension band wiring. The high rate of patient satisfaction, good clinical results as well as low rate of needed hardware removal make this technique preferable for fixing Mayo Type II A olecranon fractures.