Operative Treatment of Displaced Intra-articular Calcaneal Fractures: Short-Term Results

Calcaneal fracture is the most common tarsal bone fracture and is often associated with a high complication rate and disfunction. Open surgical treatment of calcaneal fracture is one of the most challenging orthopaedic procedures with somewhat vague functional outcome. In a retrospective study the clinical and radiographic results of 18 calcaneal fractures in 17 patients (13 males 4 females) with mean age of 31 years (21-53 years) that had undergone open reduction during a 4-year period (2002-2006) were evaluated with an average follow-up of 19 months (9-48 months). The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scoring system was used to assess the treatment outcome Thirteen fractures were type II and 5 type III Sander's class.The preoperative average Bohler's angle of 7 degrees changed to 21.8 degrees in follow-up. The collective average AOFAS score was 89.05. This score was 93.3 for type II and 78 for type III Sander's fractures. Subtalar osteoarthritis was observed in 4 patients. Open reduction and internal fixation of intra-articular calcaneal fractures with achievement of good reduction of posterior articular facet can result in good or excellent outcome.