J Bone Metab.  2017 Aug;24(3):175-181. 10.11005/jbm.2017.24.3.175.

Olecranon Fractures Have Features of Osteoporotic Fracture

• Park SC
• Gong HS
• Kim K
• Lee SH
• Kim S
• Baek GH

• KMID: 2415955
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11005/jbm.2017.24.3.175

Abstract

BACKGROUND
To determine whether olecranon fractures have osteoporotic features such as age-dependent, low bone attenuation and low-energy trauma as a cause of injury.
METHODS
Elbow computed tomography (CT) and medical record review were performed in 114 patients (53 males and 61 females) with acute olecranon fractures. The mean age was 57 years. Bone attenuation was measured on the central part of the olecranon on sagittal CT images avoiding the fracture, and on the distal humerus (distal metaphysis and medial and lateral condyles) on coronal CT images. We compared bone attenuation and causes of injury (high or low energy trauma) between younger (<50 years) and older (≥50 years) patients in each gender. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of age and gender on bone attenuation.
RESULTS
Mean bone attenuation in older male and female patients was significantly lower than in younger patients, except at the medial condyle in men. The proportion of low-energy trauma in older male patients was significantly higher than in younger male patients. In female patients, low-energy trauma was predominant in both younger and older patients. Age and female gender had significantly negative effects on bone attenuation.
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that olecranon fractures have osteoporotic features, including age-dependent low bone attenuation and low-energy trauma as the predominant cause of injury. Our results suggest that osteoporosis evaluation should be considered for patients aged 50 years or more with olecranon fractures.

Keyword

Olecranon; Osteoporosis; Osteoporotic fracture

MeSH Terms

Elbow
Female
Humans
Humerus
Male
Medical Records
Olecranon Process*
Osteoporosis
Osteoporotic Fractures*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Computed tomography images of 86-year-old female patient with olecranon fracture. Bone attenuation was measured by placing a circular region of interest at (A) medial and lateral condyles, (B) center of distal humerus, and (C) olecranon. HU, Hounsfield units.

• 

  Fig. 2 Correlation between bone attenuation of the olecranon and age.

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