Open reduction and internal fixation assisted by medial distraction for intraarticular calcaneal fractures

Objective To report the clinical efficacy of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) assisted by medial distraction for intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Methods From September 2010 to November 2013, 151 patients with intra-articular calcaneal fracture were treated at our department by ORIF. They were 95 men and 56 women, 18 to 69 years of age. According to the Sanders classification, there were 24 cases of type Ⅱ, 76 ones of type Ⅲ, and 51 ones of type Ⅳ. Medial distraction was used in 27 cases but not in 124 ones. The 2 groups were compatible, without significant differences in preoperative general data (P>0.05) . The 2 groups were compared in intraoperative indexes and follow-up radiological data. Results The mean duration of surgery in the distraction group (71.6±18.3 minutes) was significantly shorter than that in the non-distraction group (80.4±20.7 minutes) , and the varus angle in the distraction group (5.3°±4.4°) was significantly smaller than that in the non-distraction group (10. 6°±6.5°) (P 0.05). Conclusion ORIF assisted by medial distraction is effective for intra-articular calcaneal fractures, especially in correcting the calcaneal axis. Key words: Calcaneus; Fractures, bone; Fracture fixation, internal; Medial distraction