[Evaluation of the effect of triple arthrodesis on treating complications of calcaneus].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of triple arthrodesis on treating complications of calcaneus fractures.


METHODS
From 1990 to 2001, 12 patients with the complications of calcaneus fractures underwent the triple arthrodesis (subtalar, talaronavicular and calcaneocuboid joints). Ollier incision was applied to all patients. Peroneal tenolysis was required in 2 patients and a decompression and transposition of tibial-nerve in 1 patient. Of the 12 patients, 7 were males and 5 were females. Their ages ranged from 29 to 64 years. Complications, like pain and deformity, occurred 5 to 22 months after the operation(18 months on average). Preoperative score, fibulocalcaneal distance, Böhler angle, difference of talar declination angle and height of hind foot were 40.00 +/- 5.22, 0.41 +/- 0.03 cm, 12.00 +/- 3.40 degrees, 17.00 +/- 3.32 degrees and 4.12 +/- 0.35 cm respectively.


RESULTS
All patients were followed up from 3 to 13 years with an average of 7 years. Postoperative score, tibulocalcaneal distance, Böhler angle, difference of talar declination angle and height of hind foot were 75.00 +/- 6.46, 0.73 +/- 0.02 cm, 31.00 +/- 5.61 degrees, 9.00 +/- 3.15 degrees and 6.75 +/- 0.62 cm respectively. There were significant differences in these indexes(P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
To evaluate the complications of calcaneus fractures and to adopt proper operative procedures are necessary. To restore the height of hind foot and the anatomical relationship between hind foot and calcaneus is the key factor to success.
Hu
Huaijian
H
Xuanwu Hospital Affiliated to Capital University of Medicine, Beijing 100053, P R China. hhuaijian1@sohu.com
Shen
Huiliang
H
Feng
Mingli
M
D000328:Adult; D001174:Arthrodesis / Q000379:methods; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome