Calcaneocuboid joint involvement in calcaneal fractures

The charts and radiographs of 48 surgically treated patients who underwent surgery for calcaneal fractures (right in 25 patients, left in 22, and bilateral in 1) between 1987 and 1994 were retrospectively reviewed. Coronal computed tomographic scans alone were obtained in 33 patients, and both coronal and axial computed tomographic scans were obtained in 9 patients. Three fractures exiting close to the calcaneocuboid joint (CCJ), but not involving the joint, were excluded. Nineteen patients (38.7%) had involvement of the CCJ. The extension of the fracture to the CCJ was apparent in anteroposterior or oblique radiographs or both in 18 patients. There was intra-articular fracture displacement of < or = 1 mm in 6 patients, and 13 patients had a step or a gap of > or = 2 mm with or without angulation. Eleven patients had joint depression type fractures, 6 had tongue type fractures, and 2 had comminuted fractures. Extension of the calcaneal fracture into the CCJ was significantly more common with the joint depression type calcaneal fractures (chi-square test; P = 0.008). The coronal computed tomographic images showed significant lateral subluxation of posterior facet fragments in 8 patients and considerable comminution of the lateral calcaneal wall with or without lateral subluxation of posterior facet fragment in 10 patients. These patients also had CCJ involvement, thus establishing a strong correlation between lateral subluxation of the posterior facet fragment or comminution of the lateral calcaneal wall and CCJ involvement. CCJ involvement is more common with joint depression type fractures. Extension of the fracture line into the CCJ should be suspected in presence of significant lateral column comminution or lateral talar subluxation.