Effect of Calcaneus Fracture Gap Without Step-Off on Stress Distribution Across the Subtalar Joint

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett Barrick ◽  
Donald A. Joyce ◽  
Frederick W. Werner ◽  
Maria Iannolo

Background: Subtalar arthritis is a common consequence following calcaneal fracture, and its development is related to the severity of the fracture. Previous calcaneal fracture models have demonstrated altered contact characteristics when a step-off is created in the posterior facet articular surface. Changes in posterior facet contact characteristics have not been previously characterized for calcaneal fracture gap without step-off. Methods: The contact characteristics (peak pressure, area of contact, and centroid of pressure) of the posterior facet of the subtalar joint were determined in 6 cadaveric specimens. After creating a calcaneal fracture to simulate a Sanders type II fracture, the contact characteristics were determined with the posterior facet anatomically reduced followed by an incremental increase in fracture gap displacement of 2, 3, and 5 mm without a step-off of the articular surface. Results: Peak pressure on the medial fragment was significantly less with a 5-mm gap compared to a 2- or 3-mm gap, or reduced. On the lateral fragment, the peak pressure was significantly increased with a 5-mm gap compared to a 2- or 3-mm gap. Contact area significantly changed with increased gap. Conclusion: In this study, there were no significant differences in contact characteristics between a <3-mm gap and an anatomically reduced fracture, conceding the study limitations including limiting axial loading to 50% of donor body weight. Clinical Relevance: A small amount of articular incongruity without a step-off can be tolerated by the subtalar joint, in contrast to articular incongruity with a step-off present.

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011418S0053
Author(s):  
Ming-Zhu Zhang ◽  
Guang-rong Yu

Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: The goal of this study was to discuss the outcomes of treating calcaneal fracture malunion by restoring the subtalar joint with a reconstructive osteotomy. Methods: From May 2005 to November 2016, 85 patients (88 feet) with calcaneal malunions after a displaced intraarticular calcaneal fracture were treated by osteotomy and autogenous bone graft. The subtalar joint was preserved. The mean time from initial injury to reconstructive operation was 8.9 months (95% confidence interval, 4.5-11.6 months). The displaced posterior facet was restored through a reconstructive osteotomy, whereas the bone defect in the calcaneus after reduction was filled with the lateral exostosis that had been removed, iliac bone graft was used if necessary. All patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically at a minimum of 24 months. Sixty two patients (63 feet) were followed for a mean of 45.4 months (29.0-52.3 months). Results: According to American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score, the average score was 81.6 points (95% confidence interval, 78.5-90.4 points), which was significantly higher than the preoperative assessment. Radiographs showed that Böhler’s angle, Gissane’s angle, talus declination angle, and width and height of calcaneus were improved to a great extent. Eight patients had wound edge necrosis, and 4 had superficial infection. Two patient required a subtalar fusion for subtalar arthritis at 2 years after surgery. Conclusion: Restoring the subtalar joint with a reconstructive osteotomy and autogenous bone graft was an effective treatment method for selected calcaneal fracture malunions. It reconstructed calcaneal morphology and preserved the subtalar joint.


2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 642-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ylenia Giuffrida ◽  
Sheldon S. Lin ◽  
Nicholas Abidi ◽  
Wayne Berberian ◽  
Avril Berkman ◽  
...  

Background: Posteromedial talar facet fracture (PMTFF) is a rare injury, sparsely reported in the literature. This article proposes that PMTFF is often left undiagnosed by orthopaedic surgeons and suggests the routine application of advanced radiographic studies (i.e., CT scan) in the recognition of PMTFF. It also evaluates nonoperative management of PMTFF. Methods: After obtaining Institutional Review Board approval, the medical records over a 5-year period (1997–2001) were retrospectively reviewed from the foot and ankle service of a level 1 trauma center, identifying all cases of PMTFF. Charts were reviewed for relevant data. Results of treatment were assessed during follow-up physical examination. Results: Six cases of PMTFF were identified over a 5-year period. All injuries were associated with medial subtalar joint dislocation. Four of six (66%) patients were not initially diagnosed with PMTFF, but instead misdiagnosed as an os trigonum. The remaining two patients had an established diagnosis of PMTFF at the time of initial treatment. All had short leg cast immobilization for medial subtalar dislocation. CT evaluation yielded additional diagnoses in all six patients. All six patients showed a PMTFF. Five patients (83%) revealed persistent subtalar joint subluxation. Five of six (83%) patients required at least one additional procedure as a result of an undiagnosed or nonoperatively treated PMTFF. Four patients underwent subtalar joint fusion, and one patient underwent tibiotalar calcaneal fusion secondary to concomitant ankle/subtalar arthritis. The patient who did not undergo recommended fusion continued to be symptomatic. Conclusions: Diagnosis of PMTFF necessitates a heightened clinical suspicion, especially when a medial subtalar joint dislocation is present. Proper imaging studies, such as coronal CT scan, should be performed after any subtalar dislocation. Timely treatment, in the form of open reduction and internal fixation for large fragments involving the articular surface or surgical excision for smaller fragments, is recommended in order to restore proper anatomy and function of the subtalar joint. This study verifies the significant morbidity associated with an undiagnosed or nonoperatively treated PMTFF.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 2473011419S0045
Author(s):  
Mingzhu Zhang ◽  
Guangrong Yu

Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: The goal of this study was to discuss the outcomes of treating calcaneal fracture malunion by restoring the subtalar joint with a reconstructive osteotomy. Methods: From May 2005 to November 2016, 85 patients (88 feet) with calcaneal malunions after a displaced intraarticular calcaneal fracture were treated by osteotomy and autogenous bone graft. The subtalar joint was preserved. The mean time from initial injury to reconstructive operation was 8.9 months (95% confidence interval, 4.5-11.6 months). The displaced posterior facet was restored through a reconstructive osteotomy, whereas the bone defect in the calcaneus after reduction was filled with the lateral exostosis that had been removed, iliac bone graft was used if necessary. All patients were evaluated clinically and radiographically at a minimum of 24 months. Sixty two patients (63 feet) were followed for a mean of 45.4 months (29.0-52.3 months). Results: According to American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score, the average score was 81.6 points (95% confidence interval, 78.5-90.4 points), which was significantly higher than the preoperative assessment. Radiographs showed that Böhler’s angle, Gissane’s angle, talus declination angle, and width and height of calcaneus were improved to a great extent. Eight patients had wound edge necrosis, and 4 had superficial infection. Two patient required a subtalar fusion for subtalar arthritis at 2 years after surgery. Conclusion: Restoring the subtalar joint with a reconstructive osteotomy and autogenous bone graft was an effective treatment method for selected calcaneal fracture malunions. It reconstructed calcaneal morphology and preserved the subtalar joint.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 2473011418S0040
Author(s):  
Megan Reilly ◽  
Kurosh Darvish ◽  
Soroush Assari ◽  
John Cole ◽  
Tyler Wilps ◽  
...  

Category: Hindfoot Introduction/Purpose: In tibiotalocalcaneal nails for arthrodesis, the path of the nail through the subtalar joint has not been well documented. Ideally, the defect caused by reaming and the nail does not pass through the joint surface so that the amount of bony contact between the talus and calcaneus is maintained in order to optimize fusion. Our hypothesis is that the TTC nail does not destroy a significant amount contact area between the talus and calcaneus. However, using larger diameter nails (which are inherently stronger) will have more of an effect on the contact surface. Methods: Five cadaveric below the knee specimens were obtained. The ankle was disarticulated on each specimen. Subsequently, a guidepin was drilled from the central dome of the talus down to the calcaneus. The 11 mm reamer was then passed over the guidepin through the calcaneus to simulate retrograde reaming of a TTC nail. Then, the subtalar joint was dissected open and the articular surface was documented in comparison with the area that was reamed out. Measurements were then made, using software that calculated two dimensional surface area to determine the percentage of actual subtalar joint area that was reamed out. The mean percentage of articular area that was removed with the reamer was then calculated. Results: Among the five specimens, in the calcaneus, the mean total articular area was 599mm2±113 and the mean drilled articular area was 21mm2±16. The percentage of the calcaneal articular surface that was removed with the reamer was 3.4%±1.9. In the talus, the mean total articular area was 782mm2±130 and the mean drilled articular area was 39mm2±18. The percentage of the talar articular surface that was removed with the reamer was 5.0%±2.3. Additionally, an 11 mm reamer makes a circular surface area of 95mm2, and the statistics above indicate that a significant portion of the reamed area is nonarticular, within the calcaneal sulcus or the talar sulcus. Conclusion: In a tibiotalocalcaneal nail the subtalar joint is typically incompletely visualized, however this anatomic study demonstrates that the 11 mm reamer eliminates about 3.4% of the calcaneal articular surface and about 5% of the talar articular surface. Therefore, the majority of the articular surface is left intact, which is ideal in optimizing arthrodesis outcomes. Furthermore, this study could extrapolate the effects of a larger nail on the availability of joint surface. It could also be used to argue for cartilage stripping of the affected joint surfaces in arthrodesis preparation, because the majority of the articular surface is, in fact, left intact.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenggong Wang ◽  
Can Xu ◽  
Mingqing Li ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Han Xiao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Traditional methods for minimally invasive internal fixation (MIIF) of calcaneal fractures require extensive intraoperative fluoroscopy, and fracture recovery is usually not ideal. We developed a new surgical procedure using digital surgical simulation and constructed a patient-specific instrument (PSI) for calcaneal fracture that we used during the operation. This study investigated whether PSI-assisted MIIF of calcaneal fracture enables rapid and accurate execution of the preoperative plan.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with Sanders type III or IV fresh calcaneal fractures who had undergone PSI-assisted MIIF at our hospital from January 2016 to December 2018. We analyzed perioperative data including intraoperative fluoroscopy time, concurrence of internal fixation actual usage (IFAU) with the preoperative plan, surgery time, and complications. We also compared pre- and postoperative actual measurements from X-ray radiographs and computed tomography images including Böhler, Gissane, and calcaneus valgus angles; subtalar joint width; and calcaneal volume overlap ratio with the preoperative design. All patients had been followed up and their American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) score was available.Results: Mean intraoperative fluoroscopy time was 3.95±1.78 h; IFAU in 16 patients (16 feet) was the same as the preoperative plan; mean surgery time was 28.16±10.70 min; and none of the patients developed complications. Böhler, Gissane, and calcaneus valgus angles and subtalar joint width did not differ between pre- and postoperative plans; however, the actual preoperative values of each of these parameters differed significantly from those measured postoperatively. The calcaneal volume overlap ratio with the preoperative design was 91.2%±2.3%. AOFAS scores increased with time, with significant differences in the score at each time point.Conclusions: The newly developed PSI-assisted calcaneal fracture MIIF method can rapidly and accurately execute the preoperative plan.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haichao Zhou ◽  
Wenbao He ◽  
Zhendong Li ◽  
Shaochen Xu ◽  
Fajiao Xiao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Intra-articular calcaneal fracture is a challenge for surgeons, which must be understood to provide optimal treatment. The aim of this study was to define the distribution of the primary fracture line and the secondary fracture line of intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Methods: All X-rays and CT scans of intra-articular calcaneal fractures were collected from January 2014 to July 2020. According to the classification of Essex-Lopresti, these fractures were divided into tongue-fracture group and compression-fracture group. Construct 3D models of intra-articular calcaneal fractures in all patients, and record the location of all fracture lines, which were marked and integrated on the 3D model of intact calcaneus after virtual reduction. Heat mapping were created based on the occurrence frequency of fracture lines. Results: A total of 171 patients with intra-articular calcaneal fractures were included in this study, 4 of whom were bilateral. There were 87 cases in the tongue-fracture group, 37 cases (42.5%) involved 4 anterior articular surface, 16 cases (18.4%) involved middle articular surface, and 52 cases (59.8%) involved calcanecuboid articular surface. There were 88 cases in the compression-fracture group, including 43 cases (48.9%) involving anterior articular surface, 21 cases (23.9%) involving middle articular surface, and 63 cases (71.6%) involving calcanecuboid articular surface. Conclusion: The distribution of the primary fracture line and the secondary fracture line of intra-articular calcaneal fractures has a certain rule and correlation. Whether in tongue-fracture group or compression-fracture group, the fracture line is most often involves the calcanecuboid articular surface, followed by anterior articular surface, at least involves middlearticular surface. This study provides a theoretical basis for further exploration of calcaneal injury mechanism, construction of biomechanical model, and choice of surgical approach.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (9) ◽  
pp. 1062-1069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quirine M.J. van der Vliet ◽  
Falco Hietbrink ◽  
Fabio Casari ◽  
Luke P.H. Leenen ◽  
Marilyn Heng

Background: Subtalar arthrodesis is a common salvage operation for posttraumatic subtalar arthritis. This study aimed to identify factors associated with functional outcomes and quality of life after subtalar fusion for posttraumatic subtalar arthritis after calcaneal fracture. Methods: This is a retrospective study with follow-up by questionnaire in two level 1 trauma centers. Patients who underwent subtalar arthrodesis for posttraumatic arthritis after a calcaneal fracture between 2001 and 2016 were identified and contacted for completion of a survey consisting of the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), Maryland Foot Score (MFS), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement System Physical Function (PROMIS PF, Short Form 10a) questionnaire, EuroQol 5-dimensional (EQ-5D) questionnaire, and EuroQol visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). Exclusion criteria were initial subtalar arthrodesis at an outside facility, primary arthrodesis for fracture, initial arthrodesis earlier than 2001, amputation of the fused foot or leg, younger than 18 years at time of fusion, and inability to communicate in English. A total of 159 patients met our inclusion criteria. Eighty-four patients completed the questionnaires, resulting in a response rate of 59%. Results: Median FAAM score was 79 (interquartile range [IQR], 48-90), median MFS was 74 (IQR, 56-86), and median PROMIS PF was 45 (IQR, 38-51). Quality of life was significantly lower when compared to a reference population ( P = .001). Smoking was independently associated with worse outcomes. Complications after fusion (such as nonunion, implant failure, and infectious complications), high-energy trauma, and ipsilateral injury were also predictors for poorer outcomes. Conclusion: Acceptable functional outcomes and quality of life were observed after subtalar fusion. Smoking, complications after subtalar fusion, high-energy trauma, and presence of ipsilateral injuries were independently associated with worse functionality and quality of life. Level of Evidence: Prognostic level III, comparative series.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 2473011419S0021
Author(s):  
Naohiro Hio ◽  
Atsushi Hasegawa ◽  
Satoshi Monden ◽  
Masanori Taki ◽  
Kazuhiko Tsunoda ◽  
...  

Category: Hindfoot, Trauma Introduction/Purpose: As a result of arthropathy change on the lateral side of subtalar joint after intra-articular calcaneal fracture, the secondary disorders such as pain or restricted range of motion occasionally occur. The purpose of this study is to examine factors that cause such arthropathy change. Methods: We divided 23 joints into two groups according to arthropathy change of the lateral side of subtalar joint: the existence of such arthropathy (O) group included 8 joints, the absence of arthropathy (N) group included 15 joints. The patients’ mean age at the time of surgery were 49.1 years and 54.9 years respectively, and the mean follow-up period were 16.1 months and 12.4 months respectively. The anterolateral approach or the sinus tarsi approach was used for both groups, and the medial approach was combined as needed. The fixing materials were a plate or screws, and in some cases, staples and Kirschner wires were used in combination. We assessed Sanders classification, postoperative clinical evaluation using Creighton-Nebraska scale, and the width, height and dislocation of subtalar joint surface of calcaneus. Results: The breakdown of the Sanders classification is as follows: N group consists of 3 joints of type 2A, 7 of type 2B, 3 of type 2C, 1 of type 3BC, 1 of type 4. O group consists of 5 joints of type 2A, 2 of type 2B, 1 of type 2C. The proportion occupied by Sanders classification type 2A in O group was larger than in N group. The average of the postoperative clinical evaluation was 94.9points in N group, 86.9points in O group. In postoperative image evaluation, the mean width in the was 106.2% in N group, 117.1% in O group, the mean dislocation of the subtalar joint surface was 0.4 mm in N group and 1.1 mm in O group. Conclusion: It was suggested that Sanders type 2A and the residual dislocation of the subtalar joint surface may be a cause of arthropathy change on the lateral side of subtalar joint.


2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 726-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang-Rong Yu ◽  
Sun-Jun Hu ◽  
Yun-Feng Yang ◽  
Hong-Mou Zhao ◽  
Shi-Min Zhang

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