Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
Patient Outcomes After Transolecranon Fracture-Dislocation
Justin M Haller1, D Andrew Hulet, William Hannay
1From 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).
Transolecranon fracture-dislocations can lead to good functional recovery, but associated injuries like radial head or coronoid fractures increase the risk of arthrosis and poorer outcomes. Early identification of these complex injuries is crucial for patient prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Musculoskeletal Research
Background:
- Transolecranon fracture-dislocations are complex elbow injuries with limited outcome data.
- Existing case series suggest reasonable functional recovery post-injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the injury patterns of transolecranon fracture-dislocations.
- To evaluate the clinical outcomes and functional recovery in patients with these injuries.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 35 patients with transolecranon fracture-dislocations treated at two level 1 trauma centers (2005-2018).
- Fracture characteristics, surgical complications, radiographic arthrosis, and Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) scores were analyzed.
- Follow-up averaged 28 months, with QuickDASH scores obtained at minimum 12 months post-injury.
Main Results:
- 37% of patients developed radiographic arthrosis, significantly more common in those with associated radial head, coronoid, capitellum fractures, or ligamentous injury (42% vs 9%).
- 11% of patients experienced post-surgical infection.
- Mean QuickDASH score was 9, with isolated transolecranon fractures achieving significantly better scores than complex variants (0-4 vs 0-59).
Conclusions:
- Transolecranon fracture-dislocation patients demonstrate excellent functional return based on QuickDASH scores.
- Associated injuries (radial head, coronoid, humeral condyle fractures, ligamentous injury) are linked to worse functional outcomes compared to simple transolecranon fractures.
