Laniado Hospital in Netanya has become the first hospital in Israel to perform an innovative operation to fix elbow fractures using strong medical sutures alone, without metal plates or screws - sparing most patients a second operation.

Olecranon fractures, breaks to the bony point at the back of the elbow, are usually repaired with metal plates and screws. Because of the elbow's anatomy, that metalwork often protrudes under the skin, causing pain and discomfort in everyday movements as simple as leaning on the elbow. Many patients end up back in theatre for a second operation just to remove it.

The new technique, developed in Laniado's orthopaedic department, uses dedicated medical sutures that give the fracture full stability without the protrusions that metal implants create - significantly reducing the chance that a patient will ever need that second surgery.

It is performed by Dr Danny Rotman, deputy head of the orthopaedic department, who trained at leading medical centres worldwide, including the Mayo Clinic in the United States and Wrightington Hospital in England. He is currently the only surgeon in Israel performing this fixation technique.

"The elbow area is especially sensitive to protruding implants," Dr Rotman explained. "We see many patients who ask to have their plates and screws removed because it affects their quality of life. The new method provides full stability to the fracture, but leaves the elbow free of protrusions under the skin. The patient enjoys a more comfortable recovery, and in many cases is spared the need for another operation entirely."

Professor Zvi Shimoni, Laniado's medical director, said the advance was part of the hospital's drive to put patients' long-term quality of life first. "It is a point of pride for our orthopaedic team that Laniado is the only hospital in Israel offering this approach," he said. "We will continue to support innovation of this kind for the health and wellbeing of the 500,000 residents of Netanya and the Sharon region."