Open Reduction of Intra-Articular Fractures of the Calaneus through the Lateral Approach / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus result in serious and prolonged disability. These injuries continue to pose a therapeutic challange and there remains a great deal of controversy regarding treatment, operative versus nonperative. The lateral approach for open reduction, popularized by Palmer, has been used by many authors, with high percentage of excellent results. We treated 21 displaced intra-articular fractures of the calvaneus in 18 patients by open reduction and internal fixation through the lateral approach from July 1990 to May 1992 and the patients have been followed from 12 to 36 months from the time of their injury. The clinical and radiographic analyses were as follows; 1. The most common cause of injury was falls from a height 19 fractures in 16 patients(88.8%), Spine fracture was most commonly associated injury 5 patients (27.8%). 2. Fracture was classified according to classification of Paley and Hall. Eight fractures were tongue type(no comminution 4, with comminution 4), 12 joint depression type(no comminution 8, with comminution 4), and a comminuted type. 3. The average bohler tuber-joint angle was