TENSION-BAND WIRING OF OLECRANON FRACTURES

Abstract

Fractures of the olecranon may be caused in two ways (Benjamin 1976):

1 by a sudden violent contraction of the triceps, as when attempting to preserve balance after a fall on the outstretched hand. This usually causes a clean break with separation of the fragments and may sometimes result in anterior dislocation of the elbow, and

2 by a fall or blow directly on the point of the elbow causing a crack or a comminuted fracture. This may be complicated by .a reflex contraction of triceps at the moment of injury causing wide separation of the comminuted fragments.