Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of sustentaculum tali screw placement on outcomes following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of intraarticular calcaneal fractures.Methods A retrospective analysis was made on 139 patients with intraarticular calcaneal fractures treated by ORIF from April 2008 to January 2012.According to Sanders classification,there were 9 patients with type Ⅱ fractures,87 with type Ⅲ fractures and 43 with type Ⅳ fractures.Fracture reduction followed by placement of calcaneal anatomic plate or anatomic locking plate was performed via calcaneal lateral L-shape incision.All the patients received X-rays and CT scans within postoperative 2 weeks.Placement of screws in sustentaculum tail was detected by CT volume rendering to visualize implants combined with multiplanar reconstruction imaging (MPR).Patients were divided into accurate fixation group (Group A,n =28),marginal fixation group (Group B,n =58),and non-fixation group (Group C,n =53) based on radiological results.Intra-and peri-operative parameters,time to partial weight-bearing,time to full weight-bearing,fracture healing time,and clinical outcome were compared among groups.Functional outcome was assessed using American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle Hindfoot Scale.Results Postoperative X-rays indicated accurate fixation of sustentaculum tail in 64 patients,marginal fixation in 22,and non-fixation in 53,but CT images manifested accurate fixation in 28 patients,marginal fixation in 58,and non-fixation in 53.Group A had operation duration of (93 ±11) min and intraoperative blood loss of (252 ± 27) ml,longer or higher than those in Group B [(85 ±8) min,(194±16) ml] and Group C [(57±6) min,(136 ±13) ml] (P＜O.05).There was no significant difference in mean hospital stay among the three groups (P ＞ 0.05).Ninety-two patients were followed-up for 12-38 months (mean 18.5 months) and 85 patients completed foot and ankle exercise as planned.Moreover,no significant differences were observed among groups concerning time to partial and full weight-bearing,fracture healing time and AOFAS score at the final follow-up (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Sustentaculum tali screw placement has no apparent effect on the short-term outcome of surgical treatment for calcaneal fractures.
. Effect of sustentaculum tali screw placement after open reduction and internal fixation of intraarticular calcaneal fractures[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF TRAUMA, 2014, 30(3): 221-226.
