Operative treatment of calcaneal fractures in elderly patients

Operative intervention is an accepted treatment for fractures of the calcaneus. However, the literature discourages surgery for these fractures in the elderly. The purpose of this paper was to review the outcomes of surgical treatment of displaced fractures of the calcaneus in elderly patients.

Between November 1987 and June 2000, forty-two patients (forty-four fractures) who were sixty-five years of age or older underwent surgery for a calcaneal fracture. The mechanism of injury, fracture pattern, and medical comorbidities were recorded. Thirty-five patients with a total of thirty-seven fractures were available for follow-up, which was conducted with physical and radiographic examinations and outcomes assessment with the Short Form-36 (SF-36), the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scale, and the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment survey.

The minimum duration of follow-up was two years, and the average duration was forty-four months. All but one fracture (97% of the fractures) healed at an average of 110 days. The average active range of motion was 38 degrees of plantar flexion, 10 degrees of dorsiflexion, 16 degrees of inversion, and 11 degrees of eversion. The average American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score was 82.4 points, the average SF-36 score was 52.8 points, and the average Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment score was 20.4 points. Posttraumatic subtalar arthritis developed in twelve patients. There were twelve minor complications and four major complications (three cases of osteomyelitis and one nonunion), all of which were treated successfully.

Open reduction appears to be an acceptable method of treatment for displaced calcaneal fractures in elderly patients. Careful patient selection is necessary because individuals presenting with severe osteopenia, those who are unable to walk or are able to walk only about the house, and those with a medical condition that precludes surgery may be better candidates for nonoperative care.