Case Report of a Tongue-Type Calcaneal Fracture

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Care

Background:

• Calcaneus fractures account for 2% of all fractures.
• Tongue-type calcaneus fractures represent 25-40% of calcaneus fractures.
• These fractures can risk soft tissue necrosis, presenting a surgical emergency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the management of a patient with a tongue-type calcaneus fracture with high risk of soft tissue necrosis.
• To highlight the importance of prompt surgical intervention for fractures with skin involvement.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a patient presenting with a fall from height injury.
• Initial stabilization, radiographic confirmation of tongue-type calcaneus fracture.
• Urgent helicopter transport for surgical reduction and internal fixation.

Main Results:

• The patient underwent successful open reduction internal fixation, relieving pressure on the skin.
• No intraoperative or immediate postoperative complications were noted.
• The patient was discharged the day after surgery with outpatient follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Recognizing fractures with skin involvement is critical for identifying surgical emergencies.
• Expedient patient care and surgical intervention reduce the risk of complications like open fractures and poor healing.
• Timely management of tongue-type calcaneus fractures improves patient outcomes and return to activity.