Results of fixation in the treatment of calcaneus fracture: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

The calcaneus bone is the largest ankle bone and calcaneal fractures are the most common fracture of the tarsal bones and represent 1% to 2% of all fractures. Roughly 75% of these fractures are intra-articular, which despite the therapeutic interventions is still known as a fracture with poor therapeutic outcomes. This study investigated the results of fixation in the treatment of calcaneus fracture among patients referred to Shahid Sadoughi and Shahid Rahmonun hospitals in Yazd during 2017-2018. This is a cross-sectional study and the data obtained from the patients with intra-articular calcaneus fracture -diagnosed by simple x-ray and CT scan- was analyzed using SPSS and statistical tests. The fractures involving the subtalar joint were included in the study. Demographic information, postoperative complications, infection, and duration of treatment and recovery were also investigated. Thirty two patients were included in the study; 28 of them (87.5%) were males and 4 patients (12.5%) were females. 93.8% of the participants suffered from postoperative chronic pain, which was the most common complication in this study. 7 patients (21.9%) had an infection, 2 of them (6.3%) had sudeck’s atrophy, 2 patients (6.3%) had peroneal tendon pain, and one of them (3.1%) had calcaneocuboid. For 19 patients, the average pre and postoperative Bahler angle was 28.96±9.60 and 20.84±11.22, respectively (p-value=0.016, r=0.544), the average pre and postoperative Gissane was 136.15±10.54 and 142.93±16.60, respectively (p-value<0.001), the average pre and postoperative calcaneal pitch angle was 24.44±6.02 and 23.36±5.11, respectively (p-value=0.023), the average pre and postoperative talocalcaneal angle was 43.20 ± 6.80 and 42.25 ± 6.19, respectively (p-value < 0.001), the average pre and postoperative tibiotalar angle was 26.30±4.56 and 24.87±5.35, respectively (p-value=0.69), and the average pre and postoperative posterior surface slope was 28.96±9.60 and 20.84±11.22, respectively (p-value=0.016). The results showed that chronic pain is the most important postoperative complication in patients with calcaneus fractures, and surgery is somewhat effective in patients with calcaneus fractures.