OBJECTIVE This study reports on olecranon osteotomy implant removal rates, fixation types and associated complications. DESIGN Multicentre case series SETTING:: Patients were identified through an electronic medical database at one… Click to show full abstract
OBJECTIVE This study reports on olecranon osteotomy implant removal rates, fixation types and associated complications. DESIGN Multicentre case series SETTING:: Patients were identified through an electronic medical database at one level 1 trauma centre and three level 2 trauma centres. PATIENTS 235 patients were identified through the database, of which 92 patients met inclusion criteria. INTERVENTION Patients underwent olecranon osteotomy for fixation of distal humerus fractures and the implant used was at the surgeon's discretion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT Implant removal rate. RESULTS 34 of 92 (37.0%) patients underwent removal of implant from their olecranon osteotomy. Implant removal rates were: 28/63 for TBW (44.4%), 6/18 plates (33.3%), 0/1 cable-pin and 0/10 for osteotomies fixed with a screw fixation. Screw fixation was removed less frequently than TBW (p=.01). Screws were less commonly removed than all other fixation types (p=.01). TBWs (28/63) were more common removed than all other implants (6/29) (p<.05). The non-union rate for olecranon osteotomies was 3.3%. TBWs (18/18) are more likely to be removed for implant irritation than plates. TBWs had an OR of 3.29 for requiring hardware removal if they were left >1mm off of the olecranon tip. CONCLUSION In this study, 34/92 (37%) patients undergoing an olecranon osteotomy for treatment of a distal humerus fracture required removal of olecranon implant. Screw fixation (0/10) was found to be removed less frequently than TBW fixation 28/63 (44.4%). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
               
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