The use of Ilizarov technique and other types of external fixation for the treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures.

Division of Podiatry, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7773 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. zgonis@uthscsa.edu

Treatment of severely comminuted calcaneal fractures with soft tissue compromise is still a controversial issue among surgeons. Complications of open reduction internal fixation have been well reported in the literature with a fairly high incidence of posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the subtalar joint, symptomatic hindfoot stiffness (especially when fixed in varus), wound dehiscence, and potential for the development of osteomyelitis caused by the extensive soft tissue trauma inherent with these injuries. For these reasons, closed treatment techniques using minimally invasive reduction procedures with application of ring-type fine-wire external fixation have recently gained popularity.

PMID: 16903157 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]