Risk Factors for Complications Associated with Minimally Invasive Medial Displacement Calcaneal Osteotomy

CATEGORY: Hindfoot INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Several minimally invasive medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy (MIS MDCO) techniques have been described utilizing differing methods for creating the osteotomy. However, there are few clinical reports of the safety profile and outcomes after percutaneous MDCO procedures. The purpose of this study was to describe short-term outcomes and complications associated with MIS MDCO for the correction of hindfoot valgus deformities. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of all patients who underwent consecutive minimally invasive MDCO for the treatment of a hindfoot valgus deformity by a single fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon from September 2013 to August 2018. Demographic data, treatment data, and complications were recorded from the electronic medical record for the duration of the patient's follow-up. Univariate statistics were used to determine the relationship between complications and demographic/treatment variables. A p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Patients who underwent 189 MIS MDCO procedures were included in the study. Median follow-up was 12 months (interquartile range, 7 to 25 months). Osteotomy healing complications were present in 7% of cases. A 12-month cluster of osteotomy healing complications was observed. Healing complication rates were 28% during the cluster and 0.7% outside of the cluster. Osteotomy healing complications were significantly associated with higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, female sex, current tobacco use, and higher body mass index (BMI). Healing complications were not associated with osteotomy technique (saw vs. burr) or fixation type. Other complications included wound dehiscence (3%), surgical site infection (2%), transient nerve symptoms (6%), and persistent nerve symptoms (2%). Nerve symptoms were significantly associated with an increased number of concomitant procedures. CONCLUSION: Patients with higher ASA classification, current tobacco use, and higher BMI were at higher risk for osteotomy healing complications after minimally invasive MDCO procedures. Patients were also more likely to develop nerve complications with more extensive surgical procedures. These findings may be useful for surgeons when counseling patients regarding their surgical risks and when optimizing their comorbidities preoperatively.