Surgical Treatment for Displaced Intra-Articular Calcaneal Fractures in Elderly Patients: Comparison of the Minimally Invasive Approach and Extensile Lateral Approach

PURPOSE: As the functional demands for activities in elderly patients are increasing according to their life extension, the need for surgical treatment is also increasing in elderly patients with displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. In addition to the extensile lateral approach (ELA), which is a surgical procedure that showed good results on intra-articular calcaneal fractures, the minimally invasive approach (MIA) also showed an outstanding result. This study compared the radiological and clinical results of intraarticular calcaneus fractures in elderly patients in two groups: ELA and MIA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients aged over 65 years with intra-articular calcaneus fractures, who could be followed-up more than 14 months, were included in this study. Thirteen patients of the MIA group and 17 patients of the ELA group were analyzed retrospectively using radiological and clinical assessments. RESULTS: No significant difference in union time, posterior facet reduction accuracy, subtalar osteoarthritis frequency, Bohler angle, calcaneal width, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score, visual analogue scale score, 36-item short form survey, and foot function index was observed between the two groups. The p-value of the average height of the calcaneus correction, average length of calcaneal correction, and average loss of correction length were <0.001, 0.005, and 0.015, respectively. The incidence of complications, including soft tissue necrosis and bone infection, were 23.1% in the ELA group and none in the MIA group. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcomes were similar in the two groups. The degree of reduction of fracture showed a better result in the MIA group than the ELA group. Furthermore, there were no complications in the MIA group, whereas the ELA group showed some complications.

Comparison of two surgical approaches in treatment of calcaneal fracture / 中国医师进修杂志

Objective To compare sinus tarsi approach(STA) and extensile L shape approach (ELA) in the surgical treatment of calcaneal fractures. Methods A total of 51 cases of calcaneal fractures treated from May 2014 to December 2016 were enrolled. Twenty of them were performed ORIF via the sinus tarsi approach, while the other 31 cases were performed ORIF via lateral extensile L shape approach. X-ray films were taken postoperatively to record the changes of B?hler angle and Gissane angle. The AOFAS, VAS and SF-36 scores were adopted to assess the therapeutic effect. Results The average follow-up period of STA group was 15.5 months. And patients in ELA group were followed up for an average period of 18.4 months. All the fractures in the series had a boney union at or before the final follow-up. The final correction of B?hler angle (34.60 ± 2.91)° , and Gissane angle (114.45 ± 2.91)° was significantly increased in the STA group; and the final correction of B?hler angle (33.55 ± 2.73)° , and Gissane angle (112.81 ± 4.15)° was also significantly increased in the ELA group; while there was no significant difference between the two groups. The final AOFAS scores , VAS scores and SF-36 scores of the STA were (83.56 ± 7.13), (1.78 ± 0.89), (88.95 ± 4.31) scores, while those in ELA group were (81.91 ± 9.89), (2.01 ± 1.33) and (86.65 ± 4.95) scores. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). No wound problem happened in STA group, but there were 2 cases who had wound complications in ELA group. Conclusions No significant difference is found between the two groups in the short-term efficacy of the treatment for calaneal fracture. However, STA has the advantages of lower soft tissue complication rate.

A Comparison of Extensile Lateral Approach and Sinus Tarsi Approach for the Sanders Type II Calcaneal Fracture

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical results between the extensile lateral approach and sinus tarsi approach in the open reduction of the Sanders type II calcaneal fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From July 2002 to Februry 2007, thirty two patients having thirty three calcaneal fractures of Sanders type II were managed with open reduction and internal fixation using the extensile lateral approach or sinus tarsi approach. The mean age of 19 patients using extensile lateral approach was 43.3 years. The mean age of 13 patients using sinus tarsi approach was 46.3 years. Clinical outcome, radiographic parameters, and postoperative complications were compared between both groups. RESULTS: There was no difference between two groups associated with patients demographs. The mean AOFAS score and VAS between both groups were not different (p=0.716, p=0.774). The mean Bohler's angle and Gissane's angle between both groups were not different (p=0.343, p=0.357). Two cases of sural nerve injury, one malunion, and one deep infection were occurred in the group of extensile lateral approach. However, patients using sinus tarsi approach had no postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: The clinical results of sinus tarsi approach may be comparable with those of extensile lateral approach, with the advantages of reduced risk of postoperative complications.

Operative Treatment of Intraarticular Calcaneal Fractures using Extensile Lateral Approach / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the usefulness of extensile lateral approach for accurate reduction and rigid internal fixation in comminuted intraarticular fractures of calcaneus. MATERIALS AND METHODS:From October 2002 to May 2007, we managed 55 patients (62 cases) with open reduction and internal fixation using extensile lateral approach. Among these, 38 patients (43 cases) who underwent preoperative and postoperative CT scan were enrolled. All patients were evaluated over 24 months after surgery. Bohler angle and Gissane angle on plain X-ray, displacement and step-off of articular surface of calcaneus on CT scan were measured and we compared the difference between preoperative and postoperative value of them. Clinical results were assessed by using AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale. RESULTS:The average Bohler angle was restored from 6.8 degrees to 23.5 degrees and Gissane angle was improved from 116.4 degrees to 113.5 degrees after operation. The average distance of displacement was restored from 4.2 mm to 1.4 mm and step-off of articular surface was recovered from 5.1 mm to 1.3 mm. Clinical results were excellent in 17 cases, good in 18 cases, fair in 3 cases, and poor in 5 cases. 10 cases developed postoperative complications such as skin necrosis, heel pain, limitation of motion of ankle and subtalar arthritis. CONCLUSION: The extensile lateral approach is valuable for the comminuted intraarticular fractures of calcaneus that enables accurate anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation by providing direct exposure of subtalar joint.