Surgical management for avulsion fracture of calcaneal tuberosity / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the operative methods and cnrative effect of calcaneal tuberosity fracture.Methods The data of 15 patients with calcaneal tuberosity fracture was retrospectively analyzed who received treatment between January 2008 and June 2011.There were 9 males and 6 female,with the age ranging from 31 to 68 years (average,51.4 years).All the patients had unilateral acute injury,with the left foot in 7 cases and the right foot in 8 cases.According to the Beavis classification,there were 3 cases in type Ⅰ and 12 cases in type Ⅱ.All the cases in type Ⅰ and 10 cases in type Ⅱ were treated with open reduction and screw fixation.The other 2 cases in type Ⅱ with larger fragment involving a portion of the subtalar joint were treated with plate and screw fixation.The effect of the treatment was assessed according to the ankle and hindfoot score system of American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) after the operation.Results Ten patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months (average,20 months).The healing time in these patients ranged from 8 to 25 weeks (average,12 weeks).The postoperative score ranged from 47 to 100 points (average,91.1 points).There were 7 cases which received excellent effect,2 cases,good,and 1 case,poor.The rate of excellent and good was 90％.Necrosis of skin and soft tissue and exposure of the plate happened to one patient,who eventually healed after 3 weeks by debridement with plate preserved and peroneal artery perforator flap transplantation.Loss of reduction happened to another patient,who was treated with the revision surgery by open reduction and screw fixation again.Conclusion To patients with obvious Fracture displacement whose soft tissues are irritated severely.Emergency open reduction and internal fixation operation should be offered to prevent the necrosis of the flaps as far as possible.To patients with small fractures,it is advisable to choose open reduction and large diameter screw fixation,while plate and screw fixation may be better for patients with larger tuberosity fragment,especially when the fracture line extends to the facet of the subtalar joint.