Dynamic footprints: adjuvant method for postoperative assessment of patients after calcaneal fractures

Open reduction and internal fixation are the current trends of treatment for comminuted calcaneal fractures. Assessing treatment results is often difficult due to discrepancy between objective parameters such as range of movement, and subjective results such as pain.

To test the reliability of footprint analysis as an adjuvant method of postoperative assessment of patients who sustained calcaneal fractures.

Dynamic and static footprint analysis was used as an adjuvant additional method to objectively assess operative results. This method is simple and is independent of the patient's initiatives. This modality was used in 22 patients followed-up 9-90 months postoperatively.

We found a good correlation between footprint analysis and objective and subjective parameters of results expressed by American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society hind foot score. In certain cases, this method can be used to distinguish between uncorrelated parameter results, such as malingering, and workmens' compensation claims.

We recommend the use of this simple, non-invasive objective test as an additional method to assess the results of ankle and foot surgery treatment.