Calcaneus fractures

Abstract

Assessment and treatment of calcaneal fractures have made substantial progress over the last two decades. Open reduction and stable internal fixation without joint transfixation has been established as standard therapy for most displaced intra-articular fractures with good to excellent results in more than two-thirds of patients in larger clinical series. The use of bone grafting or bone substitutes appears unnecessary in most cases. Important prognostic factors are anatomical reduction of subtalar joint congruity and the overall shape of the calcaneus. Therefore, quality of joint reduction should be reliably proved intra-operatively either with open subtalar arthroscopy or high-resolution (3D) fluoroscopy. Treatment results are adversely affected by open fractures, delayed reduction after more than 14 days, a high body mass index and smoking. The extended lateral approach respects the neurovascular supply to the heel and allows a good exposition of the fractured lateral wall, the subtalar and calcaneocuboid joints in complex fractures. In simple fracture patterns percutaneous screw fixation, supplemented by arthroscopic control if necessary, is a good alternative. Open fractures, compartment syndrome and fractures with severe soft tissue compromise are treated as emergency cases. Early, stable soft tissue coverage exploiting the full armamentarium of pedicled and free tissue transfer appears promising in improving the functional results and infection rates after open fractures. Calcaneal malunions after conservative therapy of displaced fractures are disabling conditions that can be treated successfully with a staged protocol according to the type of deformity. Treatment options include lateral wall decompression, in situ or correctional subtalar arthrodesis and calcaneal osteotomies.