Unstable fracture-dislocations of the elbow.

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Abstract

[Indexed for MEDLINE] 15. J Hand Surg Am. 2006 Jan;31(1):45-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2005.08.014. Coronoid fracture patterns. Doornberg JN(1), Ring D. Author information: (1)Orthopaedic Hand and Upper Extremity Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. PURPOSE: It has been suggested that specific types of coronoid fractures are associated strongly with specific patterns of traumatic elbow instability. This hypothesis was tested in a review of a large consecutive series of patients with a fracture of the coronoid as part of a fracture-dislocation of the elbow. METHODS: One surgeon repaired 67 coronoid fractures as part of a fracture-dislocation of the elbow over a 7-year period. Each coronoid fracture was characterized on the basis of surgical exposure. Pearson chi-square analysis was used to evaluate the association of the coronoid fracture type with 1 of 4 common patterns of elbow fracture-dislocation. RESULTS: The coronoid fracture was associated with an anterior (6 patients) or posterior (18 patients) olecranon fracture-dislocation in 24 patients, an elbow dislocation and radial head fracture in 32 patients, and a varus posteromedial rotational instability pattern injury in 11 patients. Among the 24 patients with olecranon fracture-dislocations 22 had large coronoid fractures and 2 had small (