Clinical outcome of pediatric calcaneal fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation.

The results of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation in skeletally immature children at one institution were reviewed. Six children with seven displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation were reviewed at an average of 30 months after surgery (range 18-48 months). All children were treated by one of two surgeons and followed by the same surgeon. The preoperative workup included computed tomography scans, which showed that all had displaced intra-articular fractures and five had comminuted fractures. At follow-up all children were pain-free with normal activities. All were able to return to full activities at an average of 10 months after surgery. All had normal ankle range of motion, but five had decreased subtalar range of motion. There were no postoperative complications, shoe wear problems, or peroneal tendinitis. This study demonstrates that open reduction and internal fixation for displaced intra-articular fractures in children yields encouraging results.