Bone graft fusion and Kirschner wire fixation for calcaneal fractures with subtalar arthritis：modified small “L” approach

Li Gong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2015.44.017

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Calcaneal fractures with subtalar arthritis were treated with bone graft fusion in the clinic, but previous big “L” approach could cause great trauma to patients, and was not conducive to the patient’s recovery. OBJECTIVE:To explore the repair effect of modified smal “L” approach in bone fusion Kirschner wire on calcaneal fractures with subtalar arthritis. METHODS: Clinical data of 23 patients with calcaneal fracture with subtalar arthritis in the First Hospital-Fengtai Hospital, Peking University from November 2012 to November 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Al patients received modified bone graft fusionvia smal “L” approach. Repair effect was observed. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores and hind foot scores were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Bone graft fusion was successfuly conducted in 23 patients. The operation time was 55-90 minutes, averagely (70±2.5) minutes. Al incision was healed wel after operation. Wound infection or flap necrosis did not occur. During folow-up, patients reached bone healing, and no talus osteonecrosis or bone absorption appeared. By the time of the last folow-up, AOFAS score of 23 patients was (85.6±3.7), which was significantly higher than (50.3±6.2) points before treatment (P < 0.05). These results suggest that modified bone graft fusion with smal “L” approach for calcaneal fracture with subtalar arthritis obtained good clinical effects.Moreover, the operation was simple and the complications were less. This method can effectively solve the insufficient exposure of inside of the subtalar joint via previous approaches and big processing difficulty.