Clinical efficacy and prognosis factors of open calcaneal fracture: a retrospective study

Background: Treatment of open calcaneal fractures remains to be a challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. The aim of this study is to assess factors affecting the treatment results of open calcaneal fractures. Methods: A total of 98 patients who have 101 open calcaneal fractures were recruited in our hospital, they were all treated with a standard protocol based on the appearance of the traumatic wound. Data on mechanism of injury, location and size of wound, classification, fixation methods and subsequent soft-tissue complications were collected and evaluated. AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Survey and physical examinations were performed to access outcomes. Results: No statistical difference was found in complication and AOFAS score in open calcaneal fractures treated with different fixation, and no statistical difference was found in AOFAS between gustilo I and II type open calcaneal fractures (P > 0.05). There was significant difference between gustilo I and III type or gustilo II and III type fractures (P < 0.05). The more serious soft tissue injury of open calcaneal fracture lead to the worse outcome and higher incidence of complications obtained. Conclusion: Open calcaneal fractures have a high propensity for soft-tissue complications no matter which fixation method was chose. There was no significant difference between patients who had been treated with different fixations in complication rates. Soft-tissue injury played an important role in outcomes of open calcaneal fractures. Deep infections and osteomyelitis were rare by means of emergency debridement and following repeated debridement.