Surgical Techniques of Olecranon Fractures

August 8, 2014

Another study demonstrating the clinical benefits of SuperCables was recently published:  Rosenwasser (2014) Surgical Techniques of Olecranon Fractures.  J Hand Surg Am 39(8): 1606-14.  The article can be accessed via PubMed here

Abstract: Olecranon fractures are common upper extremity injuries. The vast majority are treated with operative fixation. Many treatment techniques have been described including tension band and plating. This review covers the most commonly used fixation techniques in detail, including pearls and pitfalls with case examples of both successful treatments and potential complications.
The authors note that proper tensioning a figure-of-8 wire is technically challenging and it is difficult to both teach and learn because of a tendency to either undertwist or overdo it and break the wire . Plus, any kink in the figure-of-8 passage will decrease the equalization of tension in the construct despite 2 twisting points. The authors state that they are now using SuperCable because its locking mechanism can be easily positioned laterally where it will be least prominent, the isoelastic nature of the material has a more uniform tension, and the nylon is softer than traditional wire and seems to be better tolerated by patients along the posterior border of the ulna. They further state that they prefer K-wire and tension cables instead of traditional 18-gauge wire for transverse fractures. Finally, they state that the need for secondary surgery for hard-ware removal after SuperCable fixation is less often than with twisted wire fixation.