title: Displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures: is there a consensus on treatment in Germany?
abstract: Open reduction in displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures entails a high rate of wound healing deficits and infections as well as an uncertain outcome, which leads to remaining ambiguity in treatment preferences.
  
  
  
  Between January and July 2011, we emailed 575 German chairpersons of trauma and/or orthopaedic departments, asking them to complete a 31-question web-based survey regarding three broad domains: fracture classification, surgical treatment algorithms and risk factors for wound healing deficits.
  
  
  
  The response rate was 47 %. With an incidence of 77 %, open reduction via an extended lateral approach and plate fixation was the main treatment option for displaced intra-articular fractures of the joint-depression-type (Sanders II or III). Percutaneous techniques were only preferred in individual cases, with mainly precarious wound situations (59 %) as well as in patients with a reduced general health condition (ASA 3 and 4; 41 %). The re-operation rate due to infections and wound healing deficits after an extended lateral approach was reported with a percentage of 0-5 % by 88 % of the respondents. Participants stated that especially a poor microcirculation of the foot, disregard of soft tissue conserving techniques, overall condition of the patient, smoking, long time-to-surgery and operation time are the main reasons for wound healing deficits.
  
  
  
  Given the extended lateral approach as the preferred treatment option, we found minimally invasive techniques and primary arthrodesis of the lower ankle joint play a minor role in treating intra-articular calcaneal fractures in Germany. Ninety percent of our respondents stated less than 5 % of patients required re-operations due to infections and wound healing deficits. Level of Evidence Level V, expert opinion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Aachen Medical Center, RWTH Aachen University, 30 Pauwelsstreet, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pastor
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Aachen Medical Center, RWTH Aachen University, 30 Pauwelsstreet, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Gertraud
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gradl
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, St. Vincenz and Elisabeth Hospital Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Kajetan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klos
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Aachen Medical Center, RWTH Aachen University, 30 Pauwelsstreet, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bergita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ganse
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Aachen Medical Center, RWTH Aachen University, 30 Pauwelsstreet, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Klemens
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Horst
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Aachen Medical Center, RWTH Aachen University, 30 Pauwelsstreet, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hagen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andruszkow
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Aachen Medical Center, RWTH Aachen University, 30 Pauwelsstreet, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Aachen Medical Center, RWTH Aachen University, 30 Pauwelsstreet, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Christoph
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, University of Aachen Medical Center, RWTH Aachen University, 30 Pauwelsstreet, 52074, Aachen, Germany. mknobe@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knobe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D002111:Calcaneus / Q000293:injuries*; D032921:Consensus; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D005858:Germany; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D057072:Intra-Articular Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male
keywords: Extended lateral approach; Fracture classification; Intra-articular calcaneal fracture; Minimally invasive techniques; Treatment methods; Wound healing