Treatment of closed calcaneal fractures by open reduction and internal fixation with bone plate through a small posterior heel plus tarsal canal incision

Objective To report the treatment effects of open reduction and internal fixation with bone plate through a small posterior heel plus tarsal canal incision on closed calcaneal fractures. Methods A retrospective study was done of the 20 patients (25 feet) who had been treated at Ward One, Department of Orthopaedics, People's Hospital of Yunfu from February 2016 to February of 2019 for closed calcaneal fractures by open reduction and internal fixation with bone plate through a small posterior heel plus tarsal canal incision. They were 16 males and 4 females, aged from 16 to 60 years. According to the Sanders classification, there were 3 cases of type Ⅱ, 15 cases of type Ⅲ and 2 cases of type Ⅳ. Their fractures were reduced by traction, extruding, prying and direct visualization through the tarsal canal window; the bone plates were inserted through a small incision at the back of the heel and fixated by screws. Postoperative observation was done to address fracture healing, and length, width, height, Bohler angle and Gissane angle of the affected calcaneus, as well as functional recovery of the ankle-hindfoot by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) evaluation. Results The operation time for a single foot ranged from 45 min to 70 min, averaging 64.5 min; the intraoperative fluoroscopy for a single foot ranged from 3 times to 6 times, averaging 4.5 times. Local skin necrosis of about 0.5 cm×0.3 cm appeared in one foot after operation but responded to dressing change. No other wound complications occurred. Their follow up was carried out for 6 to 36 months (average, 17.3 months). The fractures healed well with well-shaped bony callus and flat articular surface after 4 to 6 months. The length (80.5 mm±4.2 mm), width (44.8 mm±5.2 mm), height (44.4 mm±3.0 mm), Bohler angle (25.0°±5.1°) and Gissane angle (113.8°±8.6°) of the calcaneus at the last follow up were significantly improved than the preoperative values (79.4 mm ± 4.5 mm, 50.5 mm ± 6.3 mm, 40.0 mm±4.4 mm, 12.0°±13.8° and 107.0°±13.3°) (all P<0.05). By the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale, functional recovery of the foot was excellent in 20, good in 3 and fair in 2 cases, giving an excellent to good rate of 92%. Conclusion In the treatment of closed calcaneal fractures, open reduction and internal fixation with bone plate through a small posterior heel plus tarsal canal incision may lead to fine outcomes due to its advantages of small incision and fine fracture reduction. Key words: Calcaneus; Fractures, bone; Fracture fixation, internal; Tarsal Canal; Small incision