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Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics

Pediatric Fractures of the Olecranon



- See: Adult Olecranon Frx:

- Discussion:
    - secondary ossification centers of olecranon (bipartite olecranon or patella cubiti) should
            not be misdiagnosed as fractures;

- Radiology:
    - ossification center of olecranon appears at 10 yrs of age & is usually fused to proxomal ulna by age 16 yr;
    - rarely these epiphyseal plates will persist in adults (bilaterally)
    - patella buitis:
            - uncommon accessory ossicle located in triceps tendon at its insertion
                    into olecranon that   may be confused with a fracture;

- Treatment:
    - undisplaced or minimally displaced frx: immobilized in long arm cast;
    - markedly displaced frx: require ORIF;
    - in the report by Philippe Gicquel, M.D. et al, authors presented an original fixation technique for olecranon fractures in children;
            - frx site did not need to be opened;
            - they used a threaded pin stabilization with adjustable lock effect;
            - no significant difference was found between tension band and the threaded pin technique, whereas the simple pin fixation
                  had much poorer mechanical properties;







Displaced fractures of the apophysis of the olecranon in children who have osteogenesis imperfecta.

Isolated fractures of the olecranon in children.
      VA Papavasiliou et al.   Injury Vol 18(2). 1987. p 100-102.

Fractures of the olecranon and radial neck in children.
      JP Dormans and M. Rang.   Orthop. Clin. North America. Vol 21 (2). 1990. p 257-268.

Surgical treatment of displaced olecranon fractures in children.
      BC. Gaddy.   J. Pediatric Orthopaedics. Vol 17(3). 1997. p 321-324.

Fractures of the olecranon in children: long term follow up.
      SC Graves and ST Canale.   J. Pediatric Orthopedics.   Vol 13(2) 1993. p 239-241

Biomechanical Analysis of Olecranon Fracture Fixation in Children  
    Philippe Gicquel, M.D. et al, J Pediatr Orthop 2002 January/February;22(1):17-21







Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.