Wound Complications Following Olecranon Fracture Fixation: Implant and Soft Tissue Considerations

Background: The aim of this multicenter, retrospective, case-control series was to investigate patient- and treatment-specific factors associated with wound breakdown following olecranon fracture fixation. Methods: We identified patients at our two participating academic centers who were operatively treated for olecranon fractures and those who subsequently underwent a re-operation secondary to postoperative wound breakdown. Demographic and historical information was collected, including BMI and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) scores. The primary outcome measure was the standardized radiographic measurement of plate prominence and soft tissue thickness posterior to the plate tip. Results: We identified 32 patients who underwent internal fixation and subsequent wound breakdown. This was compared to a cohort of 35 matched controls that did not have wound issues. Cases with wound breakdown were of higher energy, nine being open cases compared to two in the control group (p<0.05). No differences were identified in plate prominence, soft tissue thickness, and plate type. Conclusions: Wound breakdown following olecranon fracture fixation is more commonly seen in high-energy open injuries. Plate prominence, soft tissue thickness, and patient-specific factors do not correlate with wound breakdown. Further investigation into the factors influencing plate placement and how they may contribute to wound complications is needed.