Elbow fracture in elderly

A 78-year-old woman who fell two days prior has pain in her right elbow. After the fall, she could not get up, so an ambulance was called to take her to the emergency room. Right elbow radiographs (Figures 1 and 2) demonstrate a fractured olecranon with displacement. She is given a sling and told to see an orthopaedic specialist within a week. She admits to having a low level of activity and right-hand dominance. If she can avoid it, she prefers to avoid surgery.