title: [Arthroscopic release to treat subtalar stiffness after calcaneal fracture].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, China. gui1997@126.com
authors.forename: Jian-chao
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gui
authors.forename: Li-ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi-qiu
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiang-jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: 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