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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Creating Rigidly Stabilized Fractures for Assessing Intramembranous Ossification, Distraction Osteogenesis, or Healing of Critical Sized Defects
Published on: April 11, 2012
Clinical outcome of pediatric calcaneal fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation
Andrew Pickle1, Thierry E Benaroch, Pierre Guy
1McGill University Health Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Insights
Open reduction and internal fixation for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures in children show promising outcomes. Most young patients achieved pain-free status and returned to normal activities with no major complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Trauma Surgery
- Skeletal Injuries
Background:
- Displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures are complex injuries.
- Treatment in skeletally immature patients requires careful consideration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures in children.
- To assess functional recovery and complications in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of six children (seven fractures) treated with ORIF.
- Preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans for fracture assessment.
- Follow-up evaluation of pain, activity levels, range of motion, and complications.
Main Results:
- All patients were pain-free with normal activities at an average 30-month follow-up.
- Full return to activities achieved by an average of 10 months post-surgery.
- No postoperative complications, shoe wear issues, or peroneal tendinitis were reported.
Conclusions:
- ORIF for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures in children yields encouraging results.
- This surgical approach can lead to successful functional recovery in pediatric patients.
- Further research may explore long-term outcomes and subtalar joint function.
Abstract:
The results of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation in skeletally immature children at one institution were reviewed. Six children with seven displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation were reviewed at an average of 30 months after surgery (range 18-48 months). All children were treated by one of two surgeons and followed by the same surgeon. The preoperative workup included computed tomography scans, which showed that all had displaced intra-articular fractures and five had comminuted fractures. At follow-up all children were pain-free with normal activities. All were able to return to full activities at an average of 10 months after surgery. All had normal ankle range of motion, but five had decreased subtalar range of motion. There were no postoperative complications, shoe wear problems, or peroneal tendinitis. This study demonstrates that open reduction and internal fixation for displaced intra-articular fractures in children yields encouraging results.
