Turning tongues into joint depressions: a new calcaneal osteotomy

The articular surface of the posterior facet may be extremely difficult to reduce anatomically in a tongue-type calcaneal fracture because the fragment tends to translate when attempting the rotational component of the reduction. A new osteotomy that converts the tongue into a joint depression fragment to permit an accurate articular surface reduction is described to assist in realignment. This technique has been used successfully by the author in more than 30 fractures, and the results are reported herein. Surgeons faced with this dilemma may use the maneuver to solve a difficult problem.