The Hastings experience of the Attenborough springs and Rush nail for fixation of olecranon fractures.

Abstract

A study was done of 70 patients who had internal fixation of an olecranon fracture with an Attenborough spring and Rush nail at the Royal East Sussex Hospital (now called Conquest Hospital), Hastings. This method has been in use since 1970. The age-sex distribution showed more men in the younger age group and more women in the older one. A subjective evaluation was done of all patients. The results were recorded for pain, activities, range of movement, further operations and re-referral after discharge. In the series more than 90 per cent of the patients were satisfied in terms of pain relief, daily activities and range of movements. There were four dissatisfied patients and seven complications. This method provides a quick, safe and effective method of fixing olecranon fractures and appears to give a high level of patient satisfaction.