Balloon-assisted reduction, pin fixation and tricalcium phosphate augmentation for calcaneal fracture: A retrospective analysis of 42 patients

The treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures is still complex and controversial. Although open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is favored by many authors, several percutaneous techniques have been introduced to reduce complications and to obtain satisfactory clinical and radiological results. Among these percutaneous treatments, balloon reduction and bone graft augmentation is gaining an increasing popularity.We retrospectively examined a series of 42 patients treated operatively with a minimally invasive reduction technique using an inflatable bone tamp filled with tricalcium phosphate (calcaneoplasty) for Sander's type II, III and IV calcaneal fractures between 2010 and 2015. Conventional X-rays and CT scan were performed pre-operatively, at 3 and 12 months post-operatively and at the last-follow-up. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and the Maryland Foot Score (MFS) were used for clinical evaluation. Bohler's angle and the Score Analysis of Verona (SAVE) were calculated to assess bone reduction.All 42 patients were available for clinical and radiographic follow-up at an average of 665 months (range 38-92). At the last follow-up the mean AOFAS score was 82.1 (good) and the mean MFS was 80.8 (good). The mean Bohler's angle improved from 1.29° pre-operatively to 27.8° at the last follow-up. The SAVE highlighted good and excellent results in 30 (72%) patients. There were only 3 (7.1%) cases of superficial skin infection with only 6 (14.2%) patients complaining of residual pain. No cases of adverse reaction or deep infection were observed.Calcaneoplasty appears to be a valid option of treatment for calcaneal fractures and a reliable alternative to ORIF. This technique allows stable fracture reduction and early weight-bearing combined with good clinical and radiological results and few complications.