Locked Tension Band Wiring: A Modified Technique for Olecranon Fractures-A Multicenter Study Comparing Clinical Outcomes and Complications with Conventional Methods

Purpose Tension band wiring is the standard treatment for olecranon fractures, but it is associated with high rate of implant-related complication. To reduce this high complication rate, we developed a modified technique, locked tension band wiring (LTBW). The aim of this study was to investigate whether LTBW reduces complication and reoperation rates compared to conventional methods (CTBW).Methods We identified 213 olecranon fractures treated with tension band wiring: 183 were treated with CTBW, and 30 were treated with LTBW, and patients in each group were selected using propensity score matching. We evaluated operation time, intraoperative bleeding, complication and reoperation rates, the amount of Kirschner's wire (K-wire) back-out, and Mayo Elbow Performance Index (MEPI). Complications included nonunion, loss of fracture reduction, implant failure, infection, neurological impairment, heterotopic ossification, and implant irritation. Implant removal included at the patient's request with no symptoms.Results We finally investigated 29 patients in both groups. The mean operation time was significantly longer in the LTBW (106.7 +/- 17.5 vs. 79.7 +/- 21.1 min; p < 0.01). Complication rates were significantly lower in the LTBW than the CTBW group (10.3 vs. 37.9%; p = 0.03). The rate of implant irritation was more frequent in the CTBW, but there was no significant difference (3.4 vs. 20.7%; p = 0.10). Removal rate was significantly lower in the LTBW (41.4 vs. 72.4%; p = 0.03). The mean amount of K-wire backout at last follow-up was significantly less in the LTBW (3.79 +/- 0.65 mm vs. 8.97 +/- 3.54 mm; p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in mean MEPI at all follow-up periods (77.4 +/- 9.0 vs. 71.5 +/- 14.0; p = 0.07, 87.4 +/- 7.2 vs. 85.2 +/- 10.3; p = 0.40, 94.6 +/- 5.8 vs. 90.4 +/- 9.0; p = 0.06, respectively).Conclusion Our modified TBW significantly increased operation time compared to conventional method, but reduced the complication and removal rate and had equivalent functional outcomes in this retrospective study.

Automated summary

Locked tension band wiring (LTBW) is a modified technique developed to reduce implant-related complications in the treatment of olecranon fractures. This retrospective study compared LTBW with conventional tension band wiring (CTBW) and found that LTBW had a significantly lower complication rate and removal rate, with equivalent functional outcomes. However, LTBW did have a longer operation time compared to CTBW.