Patient Outcomes After Transolecranon Fracture-Dislocation. 2021

Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
From the Department of Orthopaedics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT (Dr. Haller, Mr. Cardon, and Dr. Tashjian), and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle WA (Dr. Hulet, Dr. Hannay, and Dr. Beingessner).

BACKGROUND There are few small case series that discuss patient outcomes after a transolecranon fracture-dislocation, and they suggest that patients have reasonable function after injury. The purpose of this study was to describe the injury pattern and clinical outcomes of transolecranon fracture-dislocations. METHODS After Institutional Review Board approval, transolecranon fracture-dislocations treated at two academic level 1 trauma centers between 2005 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Fracture characteristics and postsurgical complications were recorded. Radiographs were reviewed for arthrosis, and Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) scores were obtained at a minimum of 12 months after injury. RESULTS Thirty-five patients with a mean follow-up of 28 months (range, 12 to 117 months) were included. Nine patients had associated radial head fracture, 23 patients had associated coronoid fracture, four patients had ligamentous injury, and two patients had capitellum fracture. Four patients (11%) developed infection and required irrigation and débridement with intravenous antibiotics. Thirteen patients (13 of 35, 37%) developed radiographic arthrosis with most (11 of 13) having grade 2 or three changes. Patients who had associated radial head fracture, coronoid fracture, capitellum fracture, and/or ligamentous injury had significant arthrosis (10 of 24, 42%) more commonly than patients with olecranon fracture alone (1 of 11, 9%) (P = 0.05). Twenty-eight patients completed patient outcomes instrument and achieved a mean QuickDASH score of 9 (range, 0 to 59). Patients with isolated transolecranon fracture had a significantly better QuickDASH score (0.93, 0 to 4) than patients with transolecranon fracture variant with associated coronoid fracture, radial head fracture, distal humeral fracture, or ligamentous injury (11.74, 0 to 59) (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Patients with transolecranon fracture-dislocation had excellent return to function based on the QuickDASH outcome assessment. Patients with transolecranon fracture with associated radial head fracture, coronoid fracture, humeral condyle fracture, and/or ligamentous injury tend to have worse functional outcome than patients with simple transolecranon fracture. METHODS Level IV-case series.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011885 Radius Fractures Fractures of the RADIUS. Galeazzi Fracture,Galeazzi Fracture Dislocation,Radial Fractures,Dislocation, Galeazzi Fracture,Fracture Dislocation, Galeazzi,Fracture, Galeazzi,Fracture, Radial,Fracture, Radius,Radial Fracture,Radius Fracture
D004204 Joint Dislocations Displacement of bones from their normal positions at a joint. Inferior Dislocation,Joint Subluxations,Luxatio Erecta,Dislocation, Joint,Dislocations, Joint,Inferior Dislocations,Joint Dislocation,Joint Subluxation,Subluxation, Joint,Subluxations, Joint
D004551 Elbow Joint A hinge joint connecting the FOREARM to the ARM. Elbow Joints,Joint, Elbow,Joints, Elbow
D005593 Fracture Fixation, Internal The use of internal devices (metal plates, nails, rods, etc.) to hold the position of a fracture in proper alignment. Osteosynthesis, Fracture,Fixation, Internal Fracture,Fixations, Internal Fracture,Fracture Fixations, Internal,Fracture Osteosyntheses,Fracture Osteosynthesis,Internal Fracture Fixation,Internal Fracture Fixations,Osteosyntheses, Fracture
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012189 Retrospective Studies Studies used to test etiologic hypotheses in which inferences about an exposure to putative causal factors are derived from data relating to characteristics of persons under study or to events or experiences in their past. The essential feature is that some of the persons under study have the disease or outcome of interest and their characteristics are compared with those of unaffected persons. Retrospective Study,Studies, Retrospective,Study, Retrospective
D016059 Range of Motion, Articular The distance and direction to which a bone joint can be extended. Range of motion is a function of the condition of the joints, muscles, and connective tissues involved. Joint flexibility can be improved through appropriate MUSCLE STRETCHING EXERCISES. Passive Range of Motion,Joint Flexibility,Joint Range of Motion,Range of Motion,Flexibility, Joint
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes

Related Publications

Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
January 2007, Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery,
Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
November 1997, Journal of orthopaedic trauma,
Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
May 2025, JSES international,
Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
August 2025, Cureus,
Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
March 2021, Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery,
Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
April 2022, JBJS case connector,
Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
January 2023, Acta ortopedica brasileira,
Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
March 2006, Injury,
Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
January 2015, The Pan African medical journal,
Justin M Haller, and D Andrew Hulet, and William Hannay, and Jeffrey Cardon, and Robert Tashjian, and Daphne Beingessner
February 2022, Journal of orthopaedic case reports,
Copied contents to your clipboard!