Does Preoperative Manual Reduction (Omoto Technique) Affect Surgical Outcomes for Calcaneal Fractures? A Multicenter (TRON Group) Retrospective Study

Abstract

The Omoto technique is a well-known method that is commonly used for noninvasive manual repair of calcaneal fractures. However, there have been no detailed studies on its clinical outcomes in preoperative closed reduction for surgical cases. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of calcaneal fractures treated with and without the preoperative Omoto technique, assessing its effectiveness. We extracted 335 patients with calcaneal fracture who underwent surgery between 2015 and 2020 from our multicenter database, named TRON. We evaluated the clinical outcomes using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, the Böhler angle (BA) for radiographic analysis, and noted any complications. We divided the patients into those managed with the Omoto technique (group O) and those managed without the Omoto technique (group N). Patients were matched by age, sex, and fracture type, resulting in 43 patients per group. The use of the Omoto technique at the time of injury significantly improved the Böhler angle (BA). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in AOFAS, postoperative complications, or BA values at the final follow-up. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the Omoto technique, when used preoperatively for calcaneal fractures, does not negatively impact the outcomes of subsequent surgical treatments. For patients who prefer to avoid surgery, the Omoto technique can be an effective initial intervention. Additionally, our findings suggest that the Omoto technique may facilitate less invasive surgical options in certain cases.