Use of the Extended Sinus Tarsi Approach for Treatment of Displaced Intra-articular Calcaneal Fractures Compared with the Extended Lateral Approach

Category: Trauma Introduction/Purpose: We compared the radiographic results and clinical outcomes of patients with displaced, intra-articular calcaneal fractures treated via the extended sinus tarsi approach (ESTA) and the extended lateral approach (ELA). Methods: We retrospectively studied the utility of the ELA (46 patients, 52 feet) and the ESTA (56 patients, 64 feet) in patients operated upon between January 2009 and September 2014. We evaluated pre- and post-operative X-rays and computed tomography (CT) data. Pain, patient-reported functional outcomes, patient satisfaction, and postoperative complications, were investigated at the three year follow-up. Results: Neither the postoperative nor three year follow-up Böhler angles, nor the calcaneal width, differed significantly between the two groups (both p > 0.05). The maximum step-off of the posterior facet on the three month CT follow-up of the ESTA was significantly less than that of the ELA (p < 0.05). We found no significant between-group differences in terms of postoperative translation (p = 0.232) or angulation of the sustentacular fragment (p = 0.132), three year follow-up mean visual analog scale pain score at rest (p = 0.641) or during weight-bearing (p = 0.525), Foot Function Index (FFI) (p = 0.712), and self-reported satisfaction (p = 0.823). The ELA experienced significantly more wound complications (p = 0.039) and nonunions (p = 0.014) than the ESTA. Conclusion: Compared with the ELA, the ESTA afforded comparable radiological results and clinical outcomes, associated with a reduced operative time and fewer wound complications and nonunions. We suggest that the ESTA is an efficient surgical option when treating displaced, intra-articular calcaneal fractures.