• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.68-77
• /
• 2003

Purpose: The treatment of calcaneal fractures remains a controversy in orthopaedic field because of its complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment of calcaneal fractures and its complications. Materials and Methods: Clinical and radiological results were retrospectively analyzed in 28 patients, 34 cases with fractures of calcaneus which were treated in our department from September 1998 to march 2003. Results: According to the Creighton-Nebraska Foundation Assessment score, there were 3 excellent, 11 good, and 12 fair 6 poor results. Bohler angle was corrected from $8.3^{\circ}$ to $18.3^{\circ}$, Gissane angle was corrected from $121^{\circ}$ to $135^{\circ}$, and calcaneal width was corrected from 46.8mm to 37mm. Conclusion: Open reduction and internal fixation for joint depression type calcaneal fractures thought to be a good method of treatment. Closed reduction and percutaneous axial pinning should be chosed in selected cases of tongue type fractures. In treatment of complicated calcaneal fractures as malunion, subtalar distraction arthrodesis and lateral wall exostectomy will reduce disability of the disease.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.46-51
• /
• 2004

Purpose: Problematic late sequelae are common following a calcaneal fracture regardless of the initial treatment. We retrospectively evaluated the painful conditions and reviewed the results of the operative treatment in patients with previously treated calcaneal fractures. Materials and Methods: Between October 1996 and September 2001, forty-three patients who underwent subsequent surgical treatment for late sequelae of calcaneal fracture were reviewed. The initial treatment consisted of only immobilization in a cast in 7 patients, closed reduction with pin fixation (Essex-Lopresti technique) in 22 and open reduction and internal fixation in 14. Painful conditions in the hind foot included subtalar arthritis in 31 patients, calcaneofibular impingement in 13, peroneal tendinitis in 6, displaced posterior bony fragment in 3, sural neuritis in 2, subtalar and midtarsal arthritis in 1 and displaced plantar bony fragment in 1. The surgical procedures for the late complications were performed at a mean of 19 months (range, 6 to 35 months) after the injury and consisted of lateral wall ostectomy and in situ subtalar fusion in 28 patients, only lateral wall ostectomy in 5 patients, lateral wall ostectomy and subtalar distraction arthrodesis in 3, removal of displaced posterior bony fragment in 3, sural nerve transposition in the peroneus brevis in 2, triple arthrodesis in 1 and removal of displaced plantar bony fragment in 1. Mean postoperative follow up period was 57 months (range, 33 to 82 months). The results of treatment were evaluated on the basis of pain, improvement in the ability to perform activities of daily living, to return to work or to a pre-injury level of activity. Results: Pain was partially relieved in 38 patients (88%), but not relieved in 5. Function improved in 34 patients (79%), and 32 (74%) returned to work or to a pre-injury level of activity. There was a trend that the longer the interval between the injury and the operation, the longer the subsequent interval until the patient returned to full activities or work. Conclusion: Meticulous physical examination and intensive prompt treatment for remaining pain after initial treatment of calcaneal fractures are recommended for patient's satisfaction and returning to work.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.43-54
• /
• 2001

Treatment of calcaneal fraclure is difficult and full of controversy still and choice of treatment of the displaced intracalcaneal fracture is not available yet. Furthermore, the treatment of old calcaneal fracture with displaced subtalar joint or malunited calcaneal fracture is really difficult and painful to solve the problem other than subtalar arthrodesis, ignoring conservative treatment, excision of bone mass and/or adhesiolysis, which is/are a kind of palliative or salvage treatment in stead of definitive treatment that restores smooth articular surface of the subtalar joint as far as we can. Authors had some experiences treating this difficult old and displaced calcaneal fractures. Some of them were malunited already. Hereby we report our favorable results to treat the fractures with surgical reduction (reconstruction) and internal fixation without bone graft. We recommend reconstruction of the displaced subtalar joint even though it is not congruent and partly gone to get subtalar motion insead of palliative operation such as subtalar fusion, which can be done later and long term potential cause of mid tarsal arthrosis of the foot.