title: Ten-year follow-up after operative treatment for intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus.
abstract: Our first 16 patients with intra-articular calcaneal fractures that were managed by open reduction and internal fixation were originally reviewed on average 3 years after operation. We looked at the same patients again on average more than 10 years after surgery using the same evaluation system by the same physician. Seventy-five percent of the patients showed an excellent or good functional result. In no case was there an indication for a secondary arthrodesis. In spite of the fact that radiologically most patients showed a slowly progressing posttraumatic subtalar osteoarthritis, the subjective results (pain, capacity to work, and/or sports) at 10 years were clearly better than 3 years after surgery. These results may allow the conclusion that radiologic findings are only of limited value in the assessment of long-term results after operative treatment of calcaneal fractures. From a functional point of view and on the long-term follow-up most patients with intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus seem to profit from open reduction and internal fixation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Rätisches Kantons- und Regionalspital, Chur, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melcher
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degonda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leutenegger
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rüedi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular