Extract
Tension-band wire fixation is a common surgical technique that is used in
the treatment of olecranon fractures and during
osteotomies1-3.
A number of problems that are specifically related to the use of Kirschner
wires have been identified, including wire migration, skin ulceration, and the
need for hardware
removal4-6.
We found only one published article that described diminished forearm rotation
following the use of the tension-band
technique7.We observed several instances of limitation of forearm rotation following
tension-band wire fixation of the olecranon at our medical center (Division of
Trauma Surgery, University Hospital of Zurich). Hence, we evaluated computed
tomography scans of these patients and developed a computational simulation
model with use of three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction of the
elbow. Unlike other authors who studied cadaver
elbows3,6-9,
we employed a virtual three-dimensional bone model to demonstrate the anatomy
of the proximal aspect of the ulna and to simulate Kirschner-wire
placement.