[Arthroscopic release to treat subtalar stiffness after calcaneal fracture].
OBJECTIVE
To report the results of arthroscopic release to treat subtalar stiffness after calcaneal fractures.


METHODS
From September 2004 to December 2006, 10 cases of subtalar stiffness were treated. There were 8 male and 2 female cases, with an average age of 36 years old (ranging from 18 to 48). All, but 2 cases, had single subtalar involvement. The routine triple portals (lateral, anterolateral, posterolateral portals) were applied with the patient placed in the lateral decubitus position. The anterior capsule, lateral gap, calcaneofibular ligament, posterior capsule together with the posteromedial corner of the subtalar joint were released step by step under arthroscopic control. Finally, manual release was performed.


RESULTS
All cases were followed-up for 12 to 36 months (mean, 24.5 months). According to the AOFAS hindfoot activity rating scale, 10 cases were rated as Grade III, 2 as Grade II before the surgery. Nine cases were improved to Grade I, 3 to Grade II at the last follow-up after the surgery. AOFAS hindfoot scores were significantly improved from 71.4 before the surgery to 90.6 at the last follow-up (P < 0.01). All cases returned to the previous work at an average of 1.8 months (range, 1 to 3 months) after the surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopic release to treat subtalar stiffness after calcaneal fracture has such advantages as minimally-invasiveness, simplicity and effectiveness.
Gui
Jian-chao
JC
Department of Orthopaedics, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China. gui1997@126.com
Wang
Li-ming
LM
Zhang
Li
L
Jiang
Yi-qiu
YQ
Wang
Qing
Q
Gu
Xiang-jie
XJ
Ma
Xin
X
Wang
Xu
X
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013380:Subtalar Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult