Postoperative complications after displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture operations

Abstract

BackgroundThe objective was to compare postoperative complications in the management of displaced intra articular calcaneal fractures (DIACF) between two groups; the open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) group versus the percutaneous fixation (PF) group. MethodsA total of 243 DIACFs were diagnosed and 127 of them received operations either with ORIF 75 (59.1 %) or PF 52 (40.9 %) between 2004 and 2018. Postoperative complications, radiological Sanders’s classification and improvement of Böhler’s angle were analyzed. ResultsEarly complication rate (<6 weeks), rate of deep wound infections and wound edge necrosis were significantly better in PF than in ORIF patient group. There were no significant differences in late complications (>6 weeks from operation) nor in improvement of Böhler’s angle. ConclusionComplication rate is lower when using PF technique while fracture reduction remains the same compared to the ORIF. Level of evidenceIV retrospective cohort study at a single institution.