Wound complications following operative fixation of calcaneal fractures

The aim of our study was to find the incidence of wound complications following operative fixation of fractured calcanea and identify the risk factors contributing to them. We retrospectively reviewed the results of operative treatment of 33 calcaneal fractures in 30 patients over a 4-year period. We report an overall wound complication rate of 18.1%. Wound infection, haematoma, dehiscence and heel necrosis were noted in our series with or without underlying osteomyelitis. We identified the following as risk factors to the causation of post-operative wound complications: (a) fall of more than 3.4 m (p<0.005); (b) surgery within 7 days (p<0.05); (c) operating time in excess of 2 h (p<0.05); (d) tourniquet time in excess of 1.5 h (p<0.001). We recommend careful attention to these factors in treating calcaneal fractures.