Long-Term Outcomes after Colton Type I and II Fractures of the Olecranon

Background: It is unclear if the outcomes differ in different subtypes of olecranon fractures. Objective: Evaluate the outcomes of different Colton types of olecranon fractures, and if outcomes differ in dominant and non-dominant arms and in men and women. Methods: We evaluated primary journals and radiographs in 40 men and 55 women with isolated olecranon fractures and classified fractures according to Colton. Mean 19 years after fracture event, we re-examined subjective, clinical and radiographic outcomes in the former patients, using the uninjured arms as controls. Results: 89% of patients with Colton type I fractures reported at follow-up no subjective differences between the elbows, 84% with type II oblique/transverse fractures and 84% with type II comminuted fractures (p=0.91). The uninjured to former fractured arm differences in elbow range of motion and strength were no different in the 3 fracture types, the proportions of individuals with radiographic elbow degenerative changes were greater in type II than in type I factures (p<0.001), and there were no differences between the proportions of individuals with reduced joint space in the 3 groups (p=0.40). The outcomes were no different if the fractures had occurred in the dominant or non-dominant arms (p=0.43), or in men or women (p=0.43). Conclusion: There were no different outcomes after Colton type I, type II oblique/transverse or type II comminuted fractures, no different outcomes between fractures in dominant or non-dominant arms and no different outcomes in men and women.