Does Treatment Modality Affect Clinical Results of Calcaneal Fractures: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Abstract

Aim: To determine if there is any difference in functional results between surgical and conservative treatments in displaced intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum. Methods: 27 patients (22 males, 5 females, who were treated with surgical or conservative modalities (13 conservative and 14 surgical) due to displaced calcaneal fractures in different hospitals, were evaluated in this study between the years of 2012 and 2014. All patients were followed up at least for 2 years. All patients were compared using the AOFAS questionnaire.Results: There was no significant difference in terms of ages and sexes of the patients. (p>0, 05) The mean AOFAS score was 69, 15 (56-82) in conservative group, and 84, 3 (56-96) in surgical group. When these AOFAS scores were compared (Mann Whitney-U Test), the functional scores were significantly higher in surgical group (p<0, 05). Conclusion: Our study showed – as the existing literature also supports– that surgical treatment of intraarticular calcaneal fractures is functionally and clinically more effective than conservative treatment.

Keywords

• calcaneus
• surgery
• conservative
• kalkaneus
• cerrahi
• konservatif