Background: It is unclear whether the outcomes differ after different Horne and Tanzer types of olecranon fractures.
Materials and methods: We evaluated 40 men and 55 women with isolated olecranon fractures, journals and radiographs from fracture event. The fractures were classified according to Horne and Tanzer. After a mean 19 years after the fracture events, we evaluated subjective, clinical and radiographic outcomes, using the uninjured arms as controls.
Results: 95% of patients with type I fractures reported, at follow-up, no differences between the elbows, 80% with type II fractures and 95% with type III fractures (p = 0.43). The three types of fractures had no differences in elbow range of motion or hand grip strength (when comparing injured and uninjured arms) and the proportions of individuals with radiographic elbow degenerative changes or joint space reduction were no different (all p > 0.05). Individuals with elbow degenerative changes had no inferior subjective elbow function compared to individuals with normal radiographs (p = 0.66), in contrast to those with joint space reduction compared to individuals with normal radiographs (p < 0.001).
Interpretation: All types of Horne and Tanzer olecranon fractures have favourable long-term outcome. Elbow joint space reduction is associated with inferior subjective elbow function while degenerative changes are not.
Keywords: Fractures; Horne and Tanzer; Long-term outcome; Olecranon.