Comparison of uniaxial and polyaxial locking plate fixation for complex intraarticular calcaneal fractures / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the radiographic and clinical outcomes of uniaxial and polyaxial locking plates used in the treatment of complex intraarticular calcaneal fractures.Methods A retrospective comparative study was performed on the 50 patients with intraarticular calcaneal fracture (Sanders types Ⅲ and Ⅳ) who had been treated by uniaxial locking plates (n =26) or polyaxial locking plates (n =24) between January 2013 and June 2015.Operation time,intraoperative bleeding,union time,radiological and functional outcomes and functions by the Maryland foot score were compared between the 2 groups.Results All the patients were followed up for 12 to 44 months(average,20.8 months).There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in average operation time (105.2 ± 18.2 min versus 95.5 ± 17.7 min),average intraoperative bleeding (125.2 ±23.4 mL versus 120.3 ±21.5 mL),or union time (12.1 ± 3.7 weeks versus 11.8 ± 3.7 weeks) (P ＞ 0.05).All patients obtained bony union.The polyaxial locking plates group displayed significantly better B(o)hler and Gissane angles at 3 and 12 months after operation than the uniaxial locking plates group (P ＜ 0.05).Evaluated by the Maryland foot score,the excellent and good rate for the polyaxial locking plates group [91.7％ (22/24)] was insignificantly higher than that for the uniaxial locking plates group [84.6％ (22/26)] (P =0.267).Conclusions Both uniaxial locking and polyaxial locking plates can lead to satisfactory therapeutic outcomes for complex intraarticular calcaneal fractures,but polyaxial locking plates may be superior in stability and functional recovery.