Calcaneal osteotomy without subtalar fusion for malunion of calcaneal fracture / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To introduce calcaneal osteotomy without subtalar fusion for calcaneal malunion and to discuss its indications, advantages and disadvantages. Methods From November 1998 to May 2003, 24 cases with 26 calcaneal malunion for 1 to 9 months were treated by calcaneal osteotomy without subtalar fusion. The average age was 32.6 years (range, 28 to 42 years). All patients underwent radiography including plain, axial and lateral views for calcaneus, oblique view for foot and three-dimensional CT imaging reconstruction. According to Sanders classification, 13 cases were of type Ⅱ(9Ⅱb, 4Ⅱc), 13 of type Ⅲ(8 Ⅲac, 5 Ⅲbc). Through the modified lateral L-shaped approach, the protruding lateral wall of calcaneus was resected and the posterior subtalar facet was reduced by elevating the fragment of the posterior subtalar facet upwards and backwards. The defect of calcaneus was filled with bone autografts. Iliac crest bone graft was used in 19 feet and the bone graft resected from the extruding lateral wall of calcaneus in 7 feet. The calcaneus was fixed with plate and screw. Results 21 feet were followed up for an average of 14.5 months (range, 9 to 22 months). No complications such as wound infection, screw breakage and calcaneum varus were found postoperatively. The average time for bone healing was 11.2 weeks (range, 10.5 to 13.3 weeks). The postoperative functional evaluation by Maryland foot score system revealed excellent result in 8 feet, good in 10, fair in 3. The rate of excellent to good results was 86%. Plain radiographs showed the nearly complete restoration of Bhler angle, Gissane angle, talus inclining angle, calcaneal width and height of the calcaneal thalamus. Conclusion Calcaneal osteotomy without subtalar fusion is an effective method for calcaneal malunion with advantages of correcting deformity markedly, restoring the function and the outer aspect of hindfoot satisfactorily.