title: The paediatric Bohler's angle and crucial angle of Gissane: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bohler's angle and the crucial angle of Gissane can be used to assess calcaneal fractures. While the normal adult values of these angles are widely known, the normal paediatric values have not yet been established. Our aim is to investigate Bohler's angle and the crucial angle of Gissane in a paediatric population and establish normal paediatric reference values.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured Bohler's angle and the crucial angle of Gissane using normal plain ankle radiographs of 763 patients from birth to 14 years of age completed over a five year period from July 2003 to June 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our paediatric study group, the mean Bohler's angle was 35.2 degrees and the mean crucial angle of Gissane was 111.3 degrees. In an adult comparison group, the mean Bohler's angle was 39.2 degrees and the mean crucial angle of Gissane was 113.8 degrees. The differences in Bohler's angle and the crucial angle of Gissane between these two groups were statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have presented the normal values of Bohler's angle and the crucial angle of Gissane in a paediatric population. These values may provide a useful comparison to assist with the management of the paediatric calcaneal fracture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics, Starship Children's Hospital, Park Road, Auckland, New Zealand. drmattboyle@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Cameron G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Haemish A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013628:Talus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices