Predictors for wound healing complications and prolonged hospital stay in patients with isolated calcaneal fractures

Postoperative wound complications in extensile lateral approach versus sinus tarsi approach for calcaneal fractures: Are we improving? Updated meta-analysis of recent literature

INTRODUCTION

To analyze recent literature comparing clinical outcomes of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures (DIACF) treated with open reduction and internal fixation using the extensile lateral approach (ELA) vs the minimally invasive sinus tarsi approach (STA), with a focus on wound complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted utilizing PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies published between 2013 and 2022, level of evidence (LOE) I-III, head-to-head comparative studies reporting on clinical outcomes after DIACFs treated with ORIF using ELA versus STA, and literature with full-text written in English were included. Data collection included: publication year, study design, number of surgeons, number of participants, demographic data (mean age at time of surgery, percent male, body mass index, medical co-morbidities), preoperative data (mechanism of injury, Sanders classification, time from injury to surgical fixation), intraoperative data, and postoperative clinical and radiographic outcomes (Böhler angle, angle of Gissane, calcaneal height/length/width).

RESULTS

A total of 21 articles (4 randomized control trials, 17 cohort studies) comprising of 2086 patients with calcaneal fractures, treated with either ELA (n = 1129) or STA (n = 957) met inclusion criteria. The risk of postoperative wound-related complications (RR 2.82, 95 % CI: 2.00-3.98, I2=27 %) and the risk of reoperation (RR 1.85, 95 % CI: 0.69-5.00, I2=67 %) was higher in ELA patients comparted to STA patients. However, the increased risk of postoperative wound-related complications with an ELA vs. STA was shown to be trending downward in recent publications. The ELA group also experienced longer time to surgery, extended operative times, and prolonged hospital stays when compared to the STA group. Radiographic measurements at final follow-up, including Böhler angle, angle of Gissane, as well as calcaneal height, length, and width, showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Surgical treatment of calcaneal fractures utilizing the ELA continues to have an increased rate of complications and reoperation when compared to the less invasive STA, yet recent trends in the literature show that this rate is decreasing. Operative treatment of calcaneal fractures via either an ELA or STA can both achieve comparable postoperative radiographic outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III.

A Comparative Analysis of Between Percutaneous Cannulated Screw Fixation and Traditional Plate Internal Fixation in Treatment of Sanders II and III Calcaneal Fractures

The objective of this study is to compare the clinical efficacy of percutaneous cannulated screw fixation and traditional plate internal fixation in the treatment of Sanders II and III calcaneal fractures. The records of 64 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Thirty-three cases were fixed by percutaneous cannulated screws. Thirty-one cases were fixed with traditional steel plates. The preoperative preparation time of the screw group and plate group was 3 ± 1.7 days and 4.6 ± 2.1 days. The surgery time was 118.9 ± 43.8 minutes and 146.9 ± 47.6 minutes. The length of hospitalization was 8.7 ± 3.9 days and 17.0 ± 7.9 days. Intraoperative blood loss was 38.2 ± 27.7 mL and 67.1 ± 58.8 mL. The postoperative drainage volume of the plate group was 85.1 ± 53.7 mL, and no wound drainage was needed in the screw group after surgery. Postoperative wound complications occurred in 2 cases of the screw group and 8 cases of the plate group. The recovery effects of Gissane angle and Bohler angle are similar in the 2 groups. The excellent and good rate of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot Scale in the screw group was 96.8% at 12 months after surgery, whereas the rate was 93.5% in the plate group. Compared with the traditional plate internal fixation, the percutaneous cannulated screw group achieved a similar excellent and good rate of clinical treatment. It has the advantages of less trauma, less bleeding, low incidence of complications, short preoperative preparation, and hospitalization time.

Are the non-weight bearing guidelines for the after treatment of calcaneal fractures still decisive? A Dutch survey among orthopaedic and trauma surgeons

PURPOSE

The current rehabilitation for patients with surgically treated displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures (DIACFs) consists of non-weightbearing for 8-12 weeks. The purpose of the present survey was to investigate the current pre-, peri- and post-operative practices among Dutch foot and ankle surgeons. Moreover, it aims to analyze whether surgeons comply to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) guidelines and which decision criteria were used in the determination of the start of weightbearing.

METHODS

A survey was distributed among Dutch trauma and orthopaedic surgeons to determine the most common practices in postoperative weightbearing in patients with DIACFs.

RESULTS

75 surgeons responded to the survey. 33% of the respondents adhered to the AO guidelines. 4% of the respondents strictly followed non-weightbearing guidelines, while 96% interpret the AO guidelines or their local protocol freely, in any frequency. When respondents tended to deviate from the AO guidelines or local protocol, a good patients' compliance to therapy was expected. 83% of the respondents started weightbearing on the fracture, based on reported patient complaints. 87% of the respondents did not see any relation between early weightbearing and the occurrence of complications, including loosening of osteosynthesis materials.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that there is limited consensus on the rehabilitation for DIACFs. Moreover, it shows that most surgeons are inclined to interpret the current (AO) guideline or their own local protocol freely. New guidelines, supported with well-founded literature, could help surgeons in a more appropriate daily practice in weightbearing for the rehabilitation of calcaneal fractures.

Outcomes of U-shaped internal fixation in the treatment of avulsion fracture of calcaneal tubercle

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of U-shaped internal fixation for calcaneal tubercle fracture after nearly 3 years of case follow-up and data collection.

METHOD

We retrospectively analyzed the collected data from 16 patients with avulsion fracture of calcaneal tubercle between December 2018 and February 2021 at our institute. All patients were required to conform to regular follow up postoperatively. X-ray film was applied to all cases. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Association (AOFAS) score, Cedell score and the visual analog scale (VAS) were used to evaluate functional results.

RESULTS

All patients achieved bone union. The preoperative AOFAS score was 26.34 ± 3.34, which was significantly different from 91.38 ± 6.15 half a year after operation (p = 0.003). The preoperative Cedell score was 31.05 ± 4.18 and the score half a year after operation was 92.17 ± 5.39(p = 0.011). The VAS score was 8.91 ± 1.51 before operation and decreased to 0.58 ± 1.31 half a year after operation (p = 0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

In the treatments of calcaneal tubercle fracture, U-shaped internal fixation is a new attempt. Through the short-term follow-up study, we found that its therapeutic effect is excellent, which is a recommended treatment in clinic.

A nomogram for predicting post-operative wound complications after open reduction and internal fixation for calcaneal fractures

The purpose of our study was to determine the risk factors for post-operative wound complications (PWCs) after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for calcaneal fracture and establish a nomogram prediction model. We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of patients who suffered from calcaneal fractures and had been surgically treated for ORIF in our institution between January 2010 and January 2020. Perioperative information was obtained through the electronic medical record system, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the risk factors of PWCs, and a nomogram model was constructed to predict the risk of PWCs. The predictive performance and consistency of the model were evaluated by the Hosmer -Lemeshow (H-L) test and the calibration curve. In total, 444 patients were enrolled in our study. Multivariate analysis results showed that smoking, limb swelling, angle of incision, and CRP were independent risk factors for skin necrosis. The AUC value for skin necrosis risk was 0.982 (95%CI 0.97-0.99). The H-L test revealed that the normogram prediction model had good calibration ability (P = .957). Finally, we found a correlation between PWCs and smoking, limb swelling, angle of incision, and CRP after ORIF for calcaneal fracture patients. Our nomogram prediction model might be helpful for clinicians to identify high-risk patients, as interventions could be taken early to reduce the incidence of PWCs.