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Olecranon fracture in Child
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Olecranon fracture in Child

Contributors: Matthew Ambalavanar, Stephanie E. Siegrist MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Causes / typical injury mechanism: An olecranon fracture may be caused by a direct blow to the posterior elbow or by a fall onto an outstretched hand (FOOSH).

Classic history and presentation: The patient will typically present after a fall with pain, swelling, ecchymosis, and tenderness localized to the posterior elbow, with or without loss of active elbow extension. An elbow effusion will be present.

Prevalence: Olecranon fractures account for 10% of upper extremity fractures.
  • Age – Mean age of occurrence is 57 years. Younger patients are more likely to sustain injury from a high-energy mechanism, whereas older patients are more likely to sustain injury from a fall from standing height.
  • Sex / gender – No predominance exists, but males are more likely to sustain an olecranon fracture at a younger age.
Risk factors: There is no consensus regarding risk factors that predispose to olecranon fractures. However, decreased bone density is proposed as a factor in olecranon fractures caused by low-energy mechanisms, such as a fall.

Pathophysiology: Function and stability of the elbow depend on 3 separate articulations: the ulnohumeral, radiocapitellar, and proximal radioulnar joints. The olecranon articulates with trochlea of the distal humerus to form a hinge joint. During a fall, the sigmoid notch of the olecranon is driven against the trochlea as the triceps muscle contracts, avulsing the proximal bony fragment(s).

Grade / classification system: Colton classification.
  • Nondisplaced
  • Avulsion, displaced
  • Oblique and transverse, displaced
  • Comminuted, displaced
  • Fracture-dislocation

Codes

ICD10CM:
S52.023A – Displaced fracture of olecranon process without intraarticular extension of unspecified ulna, initial encounter for closed fracture

SNOMEDCT:
281528007 – Fracture of olecranon

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Last Reviewed:01/10/2024
Last Updated:01/17/2024
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Olecranon fracture in Child
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.