Fractures of the Olecranon Wheeless

Description: Low energy olecranon fractures:
- most commonly occur in elderly patients, and result from indirect trauma;
- fracture results from a sudden pull of both the triceps and brachialis muscles;
- fracture begins at midpoint of trochlear notch and extends distally to enter semilunar notch;
- amount of fracture displacement is influenced by the pull of the triceps muscle as well as any disruption of triceps aponeurosis or periosteum;
High energy fractures:
- olecranon fractures in younger patients are more often high energy injuries, resulting from direct trauma;
- often there is associated comminution or concomitant ulnar shaft fracture;
Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics