Tension band wiring of the olecranon: A biochemical study

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> Hardware prominence is the most common cause of reoperation in patients who have undergone tension band wiring for fractures of the olecranon. The study was conducted to compare the strength of four different constructs of tension band wiring of the olecranon.<br /><strong>METHODS:</strong> A transverse fracture was created in twenty cadaveric ulnas which were equally divided into four groups according to the method of fixation: 1-Single tension band, transcortical k-wire fixation; 2-Single tension band, intramedullary k-wire fixation; 3-Double tension band, transcortical k-wire fixation; 4-Double tension band, intramedullary k-wire fixation. All specimens were mounted on a universal testing machine using a custom-made fixation jig. They were tested under a single cycle load to failure. The maximum failure load was measured for all specimens.<br /><strong>RESULTS:</strong> There was no significant difference in the maximum load to failure among the four treatment groups.<br /><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> No differences in the maximum load to failure noted in between treatment groups, regardless if single or double tension band wiring was done, and regardless if k-wire fixation was transcortical or medullary. These findings would support the argument that any of the desired fixation methods may be used.</p>

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus hand infections at UP-PGH: A retrospective study from 2005-2010

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of MRSA among admitted hand patients at UP-PGH from 2005 to 2010 and determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern. METHODS: Records of admitted hand patients of all ages were identified and wound culture results were reviewed. A total of 482 wound cultures from the S-year period were examined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: From an initial decreasing trend, there was a sharp increase in incidence of MRSA hand infections from 2008 (11.8%) to 2009 (22.5%).Vancomycin had the highest number of susceptible cases from 2005 to 2008, but dropped quite sharply to the least number of susceptible cases in 2010. Chloramphenicol and erythromycin had the highest number of susceptible MRSA hand cases in recent years.