Displacement after Open vs Saw-Based Minimally Invasive Medial Displacement Calcaneal Osteotomy: A Cadaveric Study.

Background: Medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy (MDCO) is routinely used in hindfoot valgus realignment. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) calcaneal osteotomies have been reported to be as safe and effective compared to open techniques. The aim of this cadaveric study was to compare the amount of medial tuberosity displacement obtained with fine-cut saw-based MIS vs open MDCO techniques.

Methods: Eight matched cadaveric specimens had one side randomly assigned to either open or MIS MDCO. The contralateral limb was then assigned to the alternative osteotomy. The amount of medial displacement provided by the osteotomy was measured manually using a flexible metric ruler and radiographically on standardized axial calcaneal radiographs.

Results: Manual measurements showed that a mean displacement of the MIS osteotomy was 7.9 mm compared with 8.7 mm for the open technique (P = .36). Radiograph measurement showed a mean displacement of the MIS osteotomy was 7.1 mm compared with 7.4 mm for the open technique (P = .83). No significant difference was found on manual and radiographic measurement of medial displacement between MIS and open MDCO.

Conclusion: In a cadaveric model, we found similar magnitude of calcaneal tuberosity displacement using fine-cut saw-based MIS and open techniques for medial displacement calcaneal osteotomies.

Level of evidence: Level V, cadaveric study.