Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2018 Apr;13(1):1-11.
doi: 10.1007/s11751-017-0297-3. Epub 2017 Oct 20.

Calcaneal fractures: Where are we now?

Aisha Razik  1 , Mark Harris  2 , Alex Trompeter  2
Affiliations
Review

Calcaneal fractures: Where are we now?

Aisha Razik et al. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr. 2018 Apr.

Abstract

This review article on the current management for calcaneal fractures discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different treatment options including the problems encountered. Controversies are described and the evidence reviewed. The management of some types of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures remains contentious; is there a preferred stabilisation method for each type of calcaneal fracture? How constant is the "constant fragment" in an intra-articular calcaneal fracture and what is the evidence for primary arthrodesis and what is its place in these fractures?

Keywords: Calcaneal fractures; Comminution; Intra-articular; Operative techniques; Soft tissue.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Informed consent

For this review paper, consent was not required. All images are anonymised.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A 30-year-old male with a joint depression-type fracture. The heel is short, in varus and laterally translated
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Axial view of fracture in Fig. 1
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Sanders classification—type I–type IV; based on coronal CT imaging
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
CT reconstruction Sanders II, joint split. Constant fragment medially, lateral articular piece rotated by 90°
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Coronal CT images
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Sagittal CT images
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Critical angle of Gissane
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Bohler’s angle
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
Limited sinus tarsi approach for lag screw fixation and lateral wall plate plus percutaneous screws
Fig. 10
Fig. 10
Length and lateral translation of tuberosity restored with articular reduction within 1-mm, axial view CT
Fig. 11
Fig. 11
Reconstructed post-operative sagittal view from CT
Fig. 12
Fig. 12
Post-operative sagittal CT views
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Potter MQ, Nunley JA. Long-term functional outcomes after operative treatment for intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2009;91(8):1854–1860. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.H.01475. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Tufescu TV, Buckley R. Age, gender, work capability, and worker’s compensation in patients with displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 2001;15(4):275–279. doi: 10.1097/00005131-200105000-00007. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Benirschke SK, Sangeorzan BJ. Extensive intraarticular fractures of the foot. Surgical management of calcaneal fractures. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1993;292:128–134. - PubMed
    1. Rammelt S, Zwipp H. Calcaneus fractures: facts, controversies and recent developments. Injury. 2004;35(5):443–461. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2003.10.006. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Epstein N, Chandran S, Chou L. Current concepts review: intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus. Foot Ankle Int/American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society [and] Swiss Foot and Ankle. 2012;33(1):79–86. doi: 10.3113/FAI.2012.0079. - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources