Anatomical and functional results of surgical treatment of olecranon fractures in adults

Olecranon fractures compromise elbow extension by breaking the continuity of the extensor apparatus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anatomical and functional results of surgical treatment of olecranon fractures at Sylvanus University Hospital in Lomé. Patients and Methods: Forty-one patients with an average age of 37.19 years were operated on for an olecranon fracture between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022. They were all included in this prospective. According to the Mayo Clinic classification, type IA (n=3), IB (n=2), IIA (n=19), IIB (n=13), IIIA (n=2) and IIIB (n=2). Bracing was performed for simple fractures and plate osteosynthesis for common fractures. Results: Reduction was good in 38 (92.69%) patients, satisfactory for 3 (7.31%) patients. All patients consolidated in first intention. The average time to consolidation was 4 months with extremes of 3 months and 6 months. According to the Mayo Clinic Elbow Performance Score, results were rated as excellent (n=30), good (n=5), fair (n=2), and poor (n=4). Complications were elbow stiffness 5/41, nerve stiffness 2/41, pin migration 3/41, superficial infection 2/41. Conclusion: The treatment of simple olecranon fractures by bracing and complex fractures by plate gave us good results at an average follow-up of 12 months. Olecranon fractures have a bad reputation for complications such as sequelae stiffness of the elbow. Treatment is surgical in the majority of cases. The guy-wire technique is a reliable, easy-to-perform, low-cost method. The iatrogenic complications are minor, and we suggest it for all displaced transverse fractures or short oblique fractures of the olecranon. A multicenter study integrating other hospital centers in the country will make it possible to have a larger sample and to carry out statistical tests which will offer a better reflection of the different therapeutic aspects of these fractures in our country.