This is a Study to Find Out Whether Surgery Using a Metal Plate to Fix a Broken Elbow in Older Adults Leads to Better Recovery and Arm Function Compared to Non-surgical Treatment

Treatment of Olecranon Fractures in the Elderly, a Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Surgical and Conservative Treatment

This study takes place in one hospital and uses a random method to divide patients into groups. It looks at the best way to treat a broken elbow (specifically, a displaced olecranon fracture) in older adults who don't use their arms heavily. There are 84 patients in total, with 42 people in each group

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients with an acute (< 2 weeks) Mayo type 2A or 2B olecranon fracture
• Patients aged > 65 years • Patients with reduced functional demand, with a score > 2 and < 7 on the Clinical Frailty Scale
• Patients able to provide informed consent and follow all study procedures as indicated in the protocol
• Signed informed consent for study participation

Exclusion criteria:

• Patients aged < 65 years or with a Clinical Frailty Scale score > 7 or < 2
• Patients with a Mayo type 2A or 2B fracture seen more than 2 weeks after injury
• Old fracture (> 6 months), pseudoarthrosis, or unhealed nerve injury of the ipsilateral upper limb
• Open (Gustilo-Anderson type 2 or 3) or pathological fracture
• Previous injury to, or other condition of, the elbow with severe functional impairment
• Patients with severe comorbidities preventing safe surgical treatment
• Other acute fracture or nerve damage of the ipsilateral upper limb
• Known drug or alcohol abuse
• Inability to follow study procedures (e.g., due to language barriers or severe comorbidities)