[Quality of life after calcaneal fractures. A matched-pairs trial with a standardised German control group]

The purpose of the study was the assessment of the limitations of health related quality of life after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of calcaneal fractures and the comparison of these results with those of normal foot-scores. The quality of life of 55 patients with calcaneal fractures treated by ORIF was compared 2.9 years after injury with that of 55 people from the standardised German population of the German-Health-Survey 1998 using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) (Wilcoxon test). The results of SF-36 of patients were correlated with results of the calcaneus score according to Zwipp and AOFAS Ankle Hindfoot Scale (Spearman's correlation coefficient). Health related quality of life showed significant limitations in patients with calcaneal fractures in 9 of 10 scales of the SF-36. Correlations between SF-36 and foot-scores were strong in the function and pain scale and moderate in all other scales. The quality of life of shows significant limitations after calcaneal fractures. Usual foot-scores measure only the function and pain dimension of the outcome. To measure all dimensions, application of the SF-36 can be recommended. International comparisons of results and comparison with a standardised German population is possible.