Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Intra-Articular Calcaneal Fractures:Sanders Type III, Joint Depressive Type Calcaneal Fracture

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#To evaluate the radiologic and clinical outcomes of a minimally invasive technique using the tarsal sinus approach in the management of Sanders type III, joint depressive type calcaneal fractures. @*Materials and Methods@#Between July 2011 and September 2019, data of 29 patients who underwent a minimally invasive procedure with the sinus tarsi approach for Sanders type III joint depressive intra-articular calcaneal fractures, and were followed up for more than 1 year were analyzed. We evaluated the radiologic outcomes by assessing the radiologic parameters (Böhler angle, Gissane angle, calca-neal length, calcaneal height, calcaneal width). We also evaluated the clinical outcomes based on the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score and the complications associated with the technique. @*Results@#The radiological results showed an improvement in the Böhler angle from 2.5° to 18.6° and the Gissane angle from 132.4° to 119.1° after the operation. The mean AOFAS score during the clini-cal evaluation was 79.5. We observed 13 cases of posttraumatic arthritis, 1 case of subtalar arthrodesis, and no case of wound complication. @*Conclusion@#Minimally invasive technique for Sanders type III joint depressive calcaneal fractures resulted in relatively satisfactory radiologic and clinical outcomes. Open reduction and internal fixation through the sinus tarsi approach reduce complications including wound problems. This approach offers satisfactory results without long-term complications.