The infected calcaneus

Infections in and around the calcaneus can be quite challenging for the patients and physicians involved. These infections arise because of multiple potential etiologies including chronic pressure, trauma, and postsurgical wound-healing complications. The impediments to healing can be equally as diverse depending on patients' comorbidities, such as smoking, diabetes, and open injury. In this article the authors review the anatomy of the calcaneus and surrounding soft tissue, patient risk factors, and various treatment options that can be used through a multidisciplinary approach. The common limiting factor for most of these patients is the delicate soft-tissue envelope, and occasionally, the lack thereof. The ultimate goal is an infection-free limb with durable soft-tissue coverage and maximal maintenance of function.