Epidemiology of isolated olecranon fractures: a detailed survey on a large sample of patients in a suburban area

BACKGROUND: Literature lacks data concerning several epidemiologic aspects of isolated olecranon fractures (IOFs). The few studies that have analyzed this type of fracture show a low sample size and contradicting results. METHODS: This retrospective study included 165 consecutive patients (82 men and 83 women) who sustained an IOF in the past 10 years. Participants who were aged <16 years or had a previous elbow fracture or had a fracture that involved other bones of the elbow joint were excluded. Data regarding age, sex, season, date, and fracture side were collected. As per the mechanism of injury, we arbitrarily distinguished 7 subgroups. IOFs were classified as per the Mayo and AO classifications using x-ray. Statistics were performed. RESULTS: The patients’ mean age was 58.5 (standard deviation [SD], 21.3) years, and men and women were aged 48.1 (SD, 19.8) years and 67.9 (SD, 18.8) years, respectively. The most frequent fracture patterns were the MAYO 2A and the AO 2U1B1(d). Low-energy mechanisms caused simple dislocated-stable fractures, whereas high-energy mechanisms caused both simple and comminuted displaced-stable fractures. Significant differences in the trauma mechanism were found between male and female patients. The former fractures showed a bimodal distribution depending on the patients’ age group, whereas in women, the traumatic event was mainly represented by a low-energy mechanism. Overall, the most common cause of fracture was a low-energy accident. The seasonal distribution of fractures was different for male and female patients being more frequent in summer among young men and more frequent in winter among the elderly, both men and women. The left side was involved in 87 patients. CONCLUSION: IOFs occur equally in both genders, although with different age distribution. The most common fracture pattern was a simple displaced-stable fracture (MAYO 2A and AO 2U1B1[d]). Young men are more often subject to high-energy injuries that occur in road accidents, whereas with aging, they become more prone to fragility fractures as women. Female patients are usually older and are mostly affected by low-energy traumas as a fall from a standing height.