Clinical, Radiographic, and Functional Outcomes of Olecranon Fractures Treated With Tension Band Wiring: A Retrospective–Prospective Study

Abstract

Background To evaluate the clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes of olecranon fractures treated with tension band wiring and to identify factors associated with postoperative functional recovery and patient satisfaction. Methods A retrospective–prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 82 patients with olecranon fractures treated surgically using tension band wiring at Thai Binh General Hospital between January 2023 and December 2025. Patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months after surgery. Clinical characteristics, radiographic outcomes, postoperative complications, elbow function, and patient satisfaction were evaluated using radiographic assessment, Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), and Oxford Elbow Score (OES). Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0, and associations between variables were assessed using the Chi-square test. Results The mean patient age was 46.9 ± 22.6 years, and traffic accidents were the most common cause of injury (56.1%). Most patients achieved complete radiographic reduction (92.7%) and favorable postoperative functional outcomes. Delayed union occurred in 2.4% of patients, while no cases of nonunion, osteomyelitis, myositis ossificans, or osteoarthritis were observed. Higher patient satisfaction was associated with better OES outcomes (p = 0.013). However, rehabilitation practice and MEPS-based elbow mobility were not clearly associated with postoperative OES classification. Conclusion Tension band wiring provided favorable radiographic and functional outcomes with a low rate of major complications in selected olecranon fractures. Patient satisfaction appeared to be more closely related to patient-reported functional outcomes than clinician-based assessments.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Orthopedic Reviews, 2026 · DOI ↗