Bilateral Transolecranon Fracture-Dislocation Elbow with Bilateral Coronoid and Radial Head Fractures – A Rare Complex Elbow Injury: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Bilateral olecranon fractures are a rare occurrence. Direct trauma usually results in comminuted fractures and indirect trauma in transverse fractures. We describe a case of bilateral olecranon fracture with a radial head comminuted fracture with coronoid fracture without the involvement of collaterals.  Olecranon fractures are usually a result of direct trauma (fall from height/motor vehicle accidents) or indirect trauma. A 22year old male patient presented to the emergency department with complaints of pain and swelling around both elbows following a motor vehicle accident. The patient also sustained trauma to the head and had a history of transient loss of consciousness. CT brain at the time of presentation was normal and the patient was conscious. The Olecranon Fracture was fixed with a pre-contoured olecranon locking compression plate (Synthes, USA).  In our case, the collaterals were intact and as the radial head was comminuted, we excised the radial head. The radial head being secondary stabilizer of the elbow in injuries to the medial collateral ligament complex. The excision of the radial head would not cause any instability. Bilateral olecranon fractures need to be fixed anatomically, the comminuted radial head was excised and the anterior capsule was repaired.