Comparison of Drain Versus No-Drain for Intra-Articular Calcaneal Fixation via Sinus Tarsi Approach: Randomized Controlled Trial Study 33 Cases

CATEGORY: Ankle, Trauma INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Sinus tarsi approach for intra-articular Calcaneal fracture fixation has been popular recently and brought lower rate of would complications compared to extensile lateral approach. Post -operative drains are routinely used as precaution again hematoma and would complications, but still no study explained the importance of drains in sinus tarsi approach recently.The objectives of this study is to compare the outcome and complications between drain vs. without drain in sinus tarsi approach for intra-articular Calcaneal fixations. METHODS: Prospective randomize controlled study (RCT) of 33 intra-articular calcaneal fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation with mini-calcaneal locking plate (Normed, Florida) use sinus tarsi approach between 2014, December to 2018, March by one surgeon. 15 cases were not applied post-operative radivac drain vs. 18 cases were applied radivac drain no. 8. Operative times, post -operative maximum body temperature (degree Celsius), duration of hospital stay (day), wound complications (dehiscence, infection, hematoma), nerve injury were recorded, post-operatively. RESULTS: Compared demographic datas for age, gender and Sander’s classifications, both groups were not significantly different. Mean operative time were 84.73 minutes in no drain group vs. 92.06 mins in drain group, p-value = 0.202. Mean post-operative maximum body temperature were 37.31 degree C. in no drain vs. 37.46 degree C. in drain group, p value =0.46. Hospital stay were 5.53 days in no drain group vs. 7.28 days in drain group, p-value = 0.224. There were 1 superficial wound complications in each groups and were cured by intravenous antibiotic, no hematoma and nerve injury in both groups. CONCLUSION: Post-operative radivac drain application did not bring different outcome and wound complications when compared to no radivac drain group in open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) via sinus tarsi approach. But no drain group brought shorter mean operative time and hospital stay, although there were not significantly different (p>0.05). Continue our study for larger numbers of patient may bring different results.