Comparative Results of Percutaneous Calcaneal Osteotomy in Correction of Hindfoot Deformities

Calcaneal osteotomies are often required in the correction of hindfoot deformities. The traditional open techniques, which include a lateral or oblique incision, are occasionally associated with wound healing problems and neurovascular injury.

A total of 122 consecutive patients who underwent a calcaneal osteotomy for hindfoot realignment treatment were included. Fifty-eight patients were operated using an open incision technique and 64 patients (66 feet) using a percutaneous technique. Clinical and radiologic assessments were performed preoperatively, at 6 weeks, and 1 year postoperatively.

The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society scale scores and visual analog scale pain scores improved in both groups postoperatively. The difference between the groups was not significant. The results of the radiologic measurements pre- and postoperatively were not significantly different. No pseudarthrosis occurred in either group. The comparison of both groups showed a significantly lower risk for wound healing problems in the percutaneous group. The hospitalization time was significantly shorter in the percutaneous group.

Because of the excellent results with the percutaneous calcaneal osteotomy, the authors feel encouraged to establish this procedure as a standard technique for calcaneus osteotomy, especially patients at high risk for wound healing problems.

Level III, comparative series.