Evaluation of promotive effect on incision healing after the operation of calcaneus fractures by using papaverine

Objective To evaluate the p romotive effect on incision healing after the operation of calcaneus fractures by using papaverine. Methods From 2010 to 2013, 52 patients with calcaneus fractures were divided into 2 groups according to whether papaverine was used or not after the operation. There were 29 patients( 33 feet) in treatment group and 23 patients( 25 feet) in control group. All the patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation with L-type calcaneal lateral incision, and the time of regular drainage lasted for 48 hours after the operation. The clinical data were recorded in all the patients, including gender, age, degree of soft tissue injury, classification of fracture, time from injury to operation, operation time, intraoperative amount of bleeding, drying time and healing time of the incision, length of unhealthy skin and incidence of complications of the incision and function score of the foot at 1 year after the operation. Statistical analysis was performed. Results There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, degree of soft tissue injury, classification of fracture, time from injury to operation, operation time, intraoperative amount of bleeding and function score of the foot at 1 year after the operation between the 2 groups. In control group, the average time of incision drying was( 6.2±1.9) days and the average time of incision healing was( 17.8±3.1) days. The good ratio of incision health degree was 64.0%. While in treatment group, the average time of incision drying was( 5.1±1.2) days and the average time of incision healing was( 15.7±2.6) days. The good ratio of incision health degree was 84.8%. The differences between the 2 groups were statistically significant( P0.0355, 0.0063, 0.0328). Conclusions Papaverine can promote incision heali ng and decrease complications after the operation of calcaneus fractures.