ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Less invasive restoration of joint congruity and calcaneal shape in displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures via a sinus tarsi approach followed by percutaneous internal fixation with an interlocking nail results in a low rate of soft-tissue complications and good short-term outcomes1 (Video 1). STEP 1 PATIENT PLACEMENT: Place the patient in the lateral decubitus position, supporting the involved extremity with a soft radiolucent pillow, flex the contralateral knee, check with fluoroscopy before draping, and obtain lateral radiographs. STEP 2 INCISION: Use a sinus tarsi approach for control of the articular reduction. STEP 3 PERCUTANEOUS MANIPULATION OF THE MAIN FRAGMENTS: Percutaneously manipulate the main fragments to facilitate reduction of the main tuberosity fragment toward the sustentacular fragment and subsequent joint reduction. STEP 4 JOINT REDUCTION WITH DIRECT MANIPULATION OF THE MAIN FRAGMENTS THROUGH THE SINUS TARSI APPROACH: Reduce the joint with direct manipulation of the main fragments through the sinus tarsi approach. STEP 5 JOINT FIXATION WITH SCREWS: Check the congruency of the posterior subtalar joint facet, stabilize the posterior facet with 2 screws, reduce the tuberosity against the joint block and anterior process, and temporarily fix with Kirschner wires. STEP 6 INTRODUCTION OF THE INTRAMEDULLARY NAIL: Make a 10-mm vertical incision below the attachment of the Achilles tendon, direct the guidewire toward the center of the calcaneocuboid joint, place the guidewire centrally within the calcaneal body, ream over the guidewire, and introduce the intramedullary nail with the attached aiming device. STEP 7 LOCKING OF THE NAIL: Use the aiming device to position the proximal Kirschner wire into the sustentacular fragment, place the nail so that it hits the sustentaculum tali properly, insert a second Kirschner wire through the other hole of the guiding arm, exchange the wires after drilling for locking screws, apply an end cap to extend the length of nail, if needed, and then verify proper reduction and implant position fluoroscopically. STEP 8 POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT: Manage the patient with continuous passive motion and active range-of-motion exercises of the ankle beginning on postoperative day 2 and allow partial weight-bearing of 20 kg for 6 to 10 weeks. RESULTS: Recently, we reported on 103 patients with 106 intra-articular calcaneal fractures treated with the C-Nail by 4 senior surgeons from February 2011 to October 20131.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Open reduction and internal fixation with a plate is deemed to represent the gold standard of surgical treatment for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Standard plate fixation is usually placed through an extended lateral approach with high risk for wound complications. Minimally invasive techniques might avoid wound complications but provide limited construct stability. Therefore, 2 different types of locking nails were developed to allow for minimally invasive technique with sufficient stability. The aim of this study was to quantify primary stability of minimally invasive calcaneal interlocking nail systems in comparison to a variable-angle interlocking plate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After quantitative CT analysis, a standardized Sanders type IIB fracture model was created in 21 fresh-frozen cadavers. For osteosynthesis, 2 different interlocking nail systems (C-Nail; Medin, Nov. Mesto n. Morave, Czech Republic; Calcanail; FH Orthopedics SAS; Heimsbrunn, France) as well as a polyaxial interlocking plate (Rimbus; Intercus GmbH; Rudolstadt, Germany) were used. Biomechanical testing consisted of a dynamic load sequence (preload 20 N, 1000 N up to 2500 N, stepwise increase of 100 N every 100 cycles, 0.5 mm/s) and a load to failure sequence (max. load 5000 N, 0.5 mm/s). Interfragmentary movement was detected via a 3-D optical measurement system. Boehler angle was measured after osteosynthesis and after failure occurred. RESULTS: No significant difference regarding load to failure, stiffness, Boehler angle, or interfragmentary motion was found between the different fixation systems. A significant difference was found with the dynamic failure testing sequence where 87.5% of the Calcanail implants failed in contrast to 14% of the C-Nail group (P < .01) and 66% of the Rimbus plate. The highest load to failure was observed for the C-Nail. Boehler angle showed physiologic range with all implants before and after the biomechanical tests. CONCLUSION: Both minimally invasive interlocking nail systems displayed a high primary stability that was not inferior to an interlocking plate. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Based on our results, both interlocking nails appear to represent a viable option for treating displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures.
Subject(s)
Bone Nails , Bone Plates , Calcaneus/injuries , Adult , Biomechanical Phenomena , Calcaneus/surgery , Female , Humans , Male , Materials Testing , Middle Aged , Weight-BearingABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To reduce the complication rate associated with open reduction and internal fixation of displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures through extensile approaches, a locking nail system (C-Nail) was developed for internal fixation. DESIGN: Prospective case-control study. SETTING: Two level I trauma centers (university hospital) and 1 large regional hospital in the Czech Republic and Germany. PATIENTS: One hundred three patients (89 male and 14 female; mean age, 45.6 years) with 106 calcaneal fractures were treated between February 2011 and October 2013. INTERVENTION: In all 106 cases, the stainless steel C-Nail with a length of 65 mm, a diameter of 8 mm, and 7 locking options was used for internal fixation. Previous reduction of the posterior facet was performed in 15 cases percutaneously, assisted by arthroscopy and fluoroscopy, and in 91 cases by a sinus tarsi approach. The reduced joint surface was fixed by 1 or 2 compression screws. All other fragments were fixed after reduction and temporary K-wire fixation with the C-Nail introduced percutaneously through the tuberosity and 5 to 6 interlocking screws. The latter were introduced into the sustentacular, the tuberosity, and the anterior process fragments with an aiming device consisting of 3 arms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were assessed for complications, restoration of Böhler angle, posterior facet reduction with postoperative computed tomography, and weight-bearing radiographs at 6 months. Functional outcome was assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle/hindfoot scale after 6 and 12 months for all patients. RESULTS: Wound edge necrosis was seen in 2 cases (1.9%), and soft tissue infection was observed in 1 case (0.9%). Böhler angle improved from 7.3 degree preoperatively to 28.7 degree at 6 months. The posterior facet step-off was reduced from 5.3 mm preoperatively to 0.7 mm postoperatively. The average AOFAS score averaged 89.5 at 6-month and 92.6 at 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The C-Nail is a new locking system for treatment of displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures combining a primary stability with reduced soft tissue complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
