Cement Calcaneoplasty: An Innovative Method for Treating Nonunion in Calcaneal Insufficiency Fracture

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Osteoporotic insufficiency fractures of the calcaneus are common and can lead to disabling persistent pain.
• Management options for nonuniting calcaneal fractures are often limited, especially in older patients.

Observation:

• A novel technique involving fluoroscopic-guided injection of bone cement into a symptomatic nonuniting calcaneal insufficiency fracture was assessed.
• The procedure involved local anesthesia, trocar insertion under radiographic guidance, and direct bone cement injection into the fracture site.

Findings:

• The patient reported a significant reduction in visual analog scale (VAS) pain score from 90/100 pre-procedure to 0/100 at 12-month follow-up.
• This case report introduces percutaneous calcaneoplasty as a potentially safe and effective treatment for recalcitrant calcaneal insufficiency fractures.

Implications:

• Percutaneous calcaneoplasty may be a valuable treatment option for osteoporotic calcaneal insufficiency fractures unresponsive to conservative management.
• This technique warrants consideration in the management of disabling pain associated with nonuniting calcaneal fractures.