A new minimally invasive technique for the treatment of intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus preliminary results

Abstract

Background The goal of therapy for calcaneal fractures is elimination of pain and restoration of normal foot shape and walking ability. The occurrence of wound complications is a serious concern in treating calcaneal fractures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of our modified minimally invasive surgical technique for the treatment of intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus. Patients and methods Twenty-one patients with 26 closed, intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus were treated by a minimally invasive technique that we developed by modifying the procedure of Forgon. Results Combining the anatomical and functional results, an overall rating of good, fair, and poor was assigned to each fracture. The results were good in 17 (81%) patients, fair in two (9.5%) patients, and poor in two (9.5%) patients. Conclusion Our results were comparable with the results obtained using other minimally invasive techniques while avoiding the serious soft-tissue complications encountered with open surgery. Thus, we believe that the new technique is an effective and safe alternative for intra-articular calcaneal fracture fixation.