Classification and Results of ORIF of Calcaneal Fractures

The optimal treatment of calcaneal fractures remains controversial [2–4, 6–11, 14, 18, 19, 23, 24]. During the last few years an increasing number of surgeons have reported encouraging results of internal fixation for displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus [2, 6, 12, 15, 17, 20, 22, 26–28]. The prerequisites for open reduction and internal fixation are: good general condition, good soft tissues, an interval of less than 3 weeks after injury, no arterial occlusive disease, and a reliable patient. In contrast functional treatment is indicated for patients in bad general condition, for unreliable patients, those with severe arterial occlusive disease or with severe soft tissue problems, when there has been an interval of more than 3 weeks since the injury, and in cases of undisplaced or completely “smashed” fractures.