Ulna, articular, olecranon

Further indications

• Displaced fractures in infirm, dependent individuals (eg demented persons dependent on others for basic tasks such as bathing and eating)
• Infirm or dependent person

Contraindications

• Polytrauma

Advantages

• Avoid medical and surgical risks

Disadvantages

• Risk of displacement which is difficult to reconstruct later if unsatisfied with elbow extension strength

Further indications

• Infection or severe contamination
• Major bone loss
• Joint instability

Advantages

• Quick procedure
• Easy to perform
• No additional damage to already injured tissue
• Stabilizes the fracture for soft-tissue healing

Disadvantages

• Temporary procedure
• Pin-track complications
• Iatrogenic nerve injury

Contraindications

• Fragmentation of the articular surface
• Fracture dislocation

Advantages

• Inexpensive implant

Disadvantages

• Risk of joint penetration with K-wires
• Risk of backing-out of K-wires and implant prominence
• Risk of fragmentation in osteoporotic bone
• Fatigue failure of the cerclage wire

Contraindications

• Infirm and dependent patients
• Severe skin problems or infection

Advantages

• Restoration of anatomy and function

Disadvantages

• Medical and surgical risks

Contraindications

• Multifragmentary fracture
• Simple transverse fracture

Advantages

• Anatomical reduction
• Stable fixation
• Functional motion

Disadvantages

• Symptomatic prominent hardware