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. 2016 Jul-Aug;32(4):857-62.
doi: 10.12669/pjms.324.10225.

Complications in operative fixation of calcaneal fractures

Ying Li  1 , Rong-Hua Bao  2 , Zhi-Qiang Jiang  3 , Huo-Yan Wu  4
Affiliations

Complications in operative fixation of calcaneal fractures

Ying Li et al. Pak J Med Sci. 2016 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study focused on a number of factors that have been implicated in calcaneal complications and find the incidence of wound complications.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. A total of 162 patients (176 feet) who underwent calcaneal fractures between 2007 and 2012 were included. The patient's personal details, age, time from injury to surgery, cause of injury, type of fracture, operative details, operating and tourniquet times were collected from hospital computers and paper records. Evidence of complications including wound infection, wound necrosis, pain, malunion, nonunion, impingement, loss of fixation, ect were studied.

Results: Forty-seven of one hundred and seventy-six fractures (26.704%) had complications, wound infection was noted in seven fractures (3.977%), twelve fractures developed necrosis (6.818%), 14 fractures (7.955%) developed pain. Malunion was found in five fractures (2.841%), nonunion in two fractures (1.136%) and loss of fixation in four fractures (2.272%). Three neurologic injury was also seen in our study (1.705%). Operating time, time from injury to surgery and type of fracture had some association with complications in operative fixation of calcaneal fractures, which showed a statistically significant improvement (P=0.000, 0.031, 0.020, respectively), but there were no evidence that age and tourniquet time affect the incidence of complication after calcaneal fracture surgery (P=0.119, 0.682, respectively).

Conclusions: Despite developments in the surgical treatment of calcaneal fracture, wound complications still remain inevitable. Advanced imaging techniques, less invasive surgical procedures, wealth of anatomical knowledge, surgical experience and better postoperative care should be ensured.

Keywords: Associated factors; Calcaneal fractures; Complication; Management.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest: All the authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1
Wound infection in operative fixation of calcaneal fracture.
Fig.2
Fig.2
Wound necrosis in operative fixation of calcaneal fracture.
Fig.3
Fig.3
Nail broken in operative fixation of calcaneal fracture.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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