Methods

45 patients with complex fractures of the calcaneus were included in this prospective study, which was undertaken from July 2003 to December 2005. The fracture classification of Essex-Lopresti was used. We also observed the extent of secondary fracture lines extending from the primary shear line (on axial and external oblique plain radiographs) to establish comminution. The external oblique view for subtalar joint was performed with the patient supine, the knee at about 60 degree of flexion and the limb rotated externally 45 degree with a vertical X ray beam. All of these patients were managed by an external fixator using the principle of ligamentotaxis. Patients were evaluated by AOFAS.

Results

We identified two broad patterns of secondary lines on plain X-rays:

There were 20 cases of tongue type and 25 of joint depression type fracture pattern by the Essex-Lopresti classification. Forty two (93.4%) patients had fractures with posterior secondary fracture line and 3 (6.7%) patients had anterior secondary lines.

The calcaneo-cuboid type of anterior secondary line pattern was present in 2 (4.5%) cases, and the plantar type in only 1 (2.5%) case.

We observed posterior secondary line Type A pattern in 2 (4.5%) cases, depression / central depression type B in 20 (44.5%) cases, tongue shaped Type C pattern in 16 (36.5%) cases and Type D severely comminuted fracture line pattern in 4 (8.7%) cases.