Background: Extensile open approaches to reduce and fix intra-articular calcaneal fractures are associated with high levels of wound complications. To avoid these complications, a technique of percutaneous reduction and fixation with screws alone was developed. This study assessed the clinical outcomes, radiographs, and postoperative CT scans after operative treatment with this technique.
Methods: 153 consecutive patients with 182 intra-articular calcaneal fractures were reviewed. All patients were assessed for early postoperative complications at 3 months from the injury. The clinical results were assessed for patients seen at a minimum of 1 year after surgery (mean follow-up of 2.6 years; 90 patients, 106 feet). In patients who had both preoperative and postoperative CT scans (50 patients, 60 feet), the articular reduction was quantitatively analyzed.
Results: At the 3-month follow-up, there were 1% superficial infections and 1% rate of screw irritation. The complications at a minimum of 1 year after injury included screw irritation 9.3%, subtalar osteoarthritis requiring subtalar fusion 5.5%, malunion 1.8%, and deep infection 0.9%. Bohler angle, calcaneal facet height, and width were significantly improved postoperatively ( P < .01). Bohler angle increased on average +24.1 degrees postoperatively with a loss of angle of 4.9 degrees at the 3-month follow-up. There was significant improvement ( P < .01) in posterior talocalcaneal joint reduction on postoperative CT scan but residual displacement remained. At the final follow-up, 54.5% of the patients reported a residual pain level of 3 or lower.
Conclusion: This study suggests that reasonable early results could be achieved from the percutaneous treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures using screws alone based on articular reduction and level of residual pain.
Level of evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.
Keywords: intra-articular calcaneal fracture; percutaneous fixation; percutaneous reduction; screw fixation.