Treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures by cannulated screw internal fixation with calcaneal lateral small incision and bone grafting

Objective To investigate calcaneal lateral small incision procedure of open reduction and cannulated screws internal fixation for part collapsed intra-articular fractures of calcaneus and its clinical outcome.Methods 35 patients with type Ⅱ,Ⅲ(Sander′s type) fractures of calcaneus were treated with open reduction of the surface of subtalar joint and bone grafting and internal fixation with cannulated screws through a lateral approach limited incision of subtalar joint.The results of reduction were evaluated according to measure the preoperative and postoperative Bhler angle and Gissane angle.Results All 35 cases were followed up for 10~32(14±3.5)months.All cases got union with no complications such as infected incision,skin necrosis,poor wound healing,and sural nerve injury.According to the Maryland system scores,the results were excellent in 23 cases,good in 9,fair in 2,and poor in 1,and the total excellent and good rate was 91.4%.Conclusions The open reduction and internal fixation through a calcaneal lateral small incision is one of the best ways for treatment of displaced calcaneal fractures of Sander′s type Ⅱ and Ⅲ with less damages to the soft tissue,and can provide excellent recovery of the articular surface.