Radiographic and functional outcomes after displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures: a comparative cohort study among the traditional open technique (ORIF) and percutaneous surgical procedures (PS)

BACKGROUND: Open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) and percutaneous surgery (PS) are the most common surgical procedures for the treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical and radiological results of these techniques and to verify the prognostic value of the radiographic measurement tools proposed in the literature. METHODS: A consecutive series of 104 calcaneal fractures was included in this analysis. Essex-Lopresti and Sanders classifications were used to evaluate the injuries, and their prognostic correlation was tested. Böhler’s angle was measured pre- and postoperatively and evaluated as radiological outcome. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society hindfoot scale (AOFAS), Maryland Foot Scale (MFS), 17-Foot Function Index (FFI), Short Form-36 (PCS), and a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: A total of 87 fractures (5 bilateral), 54 in males and 28 in females, were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 77.0 months. Overall mean age was 51.6 years old. The most frequent cause of trauma was a fall from a height. According to Essex-Lopresti, there were 58 joint depression fractures, 26 tongue, and 3 comminute. According to Sanders: 37 type II, 31 type III, and 19 type IV. Patients were divided into three groups according to surgical treatment: 19 in the ORIF group, 35 in the PS Screw group, and 33 in PS K-wire group. The ORIF group obtained significantly better results (82 AOFAS, 86 MFS, 19.6 FFI, 46.2 PCS, 8 VAS) with respect to the PS K-wire group (74 AOFAS, 76 MSF, 26.4 FFI, 40.8 PCS, 6 VAS). The PS Screw group obtained intermediate results (79 AOFAS, 82 MFS, 22.4 FFI, 41.6 PCS, 7 VAS). The restoration of the Böhler’s angle was achieved most frequently (p = 0.02) in the ORIF group, without better clinical results. CONCLUSION: The results were best in the ORIF group, despite its risk of complications, inferior in the PS Screw group, however without statistical significance (p > 0.05), and worse in the PS K-wire group. Finally, our data confirmed the prognostic correlation between the two radiographic classifications used and the clinical outcomes.