ABSTRACT
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.