Olecranon fractures: do they lead to osteoarthritis? Long-term outcomes and complications.

PURPOSE: To report radiologic, functional outcomes, and complications with a long-term follow-up in acute olecranon fractures treated with osteosynthesis and, secondly, to determine the predisposing factors to arthritis. METHODS: Forty-two patients treated with osteosynthesis for acute olecranon fractures were reviewed, with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Radiological and clinical evaluations including DASH, MEPS, active range of motion, pain, arthritis, associated lesions, and complications were recorded. Arthritis was classified according to Broberg-Morrey scale. A logistic regression model was estimated to determine risk factors to develop ulnohumeral arthritis. The association between the types of fractures according to Mayo classification and MEPS, and the association between the type of fracture and the presence of pain were analyzed. RESULTS: The average follow-up was of 43.64 months. The flexion-extension average range was 135.6°, and the mean MEPS was 89.45; the DASH was 25.26. Eighteen cases (42.86%) were fixed with pre-contoured locking plates, 21 with tension band wiring (50%), and 3 with cannulated screws of 7 mm (7.14%). Six cases (14.29%) needed hardware removal. All fractures healed. Ulnohumeral osteoarthritis was observed in 14 cases (33.3%). We did not find a significant association among the MEPS, pain, and the fracture type, according to Mayo (p > 0.1 for both values). A significant association was found (p < 0.05) between fracture type and the osteoarthritis. CONCLUSIONS: In olecranon fractures, good functional and radiological results with low complications are predictable. The osteoarthritis is possible in more complex fractures and with other associated fractures.

Pseudoaneurisma de la arteria poplítea: complicación en la reconstrucción del ligamento cruzado posterior / Popliteal artery pseudoaneurysm in posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Las lesiones vasculares en cirugía artroscópica corresponden a menos del 1% de todas las complicaciones. En la reconstrucción del ligamento cruzado posterior, dada la relación anatómica existente entre el mismo y las estructuras neurovasculares de la región poplítea, el riesgo de lesión de la arteria poplítea es alto, aunque infrecuente según lo informado en la literatura médica. Dado la baja incidencia de esta complicación, pero su potencial gravedad, presentamos un caso de un pseudoanerurisma de la arteria poplítea luego de la reconstrucción artroscópica del ligamento cruzado posterior. Tipo de estudio: Reporte de caso. Nivel de evidencia: IV.

Vascular lesions in arthroscopic surgery correspond to less than 1% of all complications. In the reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament, given the anatomical relationship between it and the neurovascular structures of the popliteal region, the risk of injury to the popliteal artery is high but infrequent as reported in the medical literature. Given the low incidence of this complication, but its potential severity, we present a case of a pseudoanerurysm of the popliteal artery after the arthroscopic reconstruction of the posterior cruciate ligament. Type of study: Case report. Level of evidence: IV.