Minimally invasive treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures using the balloon kyphoplasty technique: preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: The balloon kyphoplasty approach to the treatment of vertebral fractures can be adapted to achieve the reduction and cement stabilisation of intra-articular compression fractures at other sites, such as the calcaneus.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: We studied six patients with a median follow-up of 12 months (range, 6-30 months). Fluoroscopy guidance was used to obtain optimal balloon positioning under the joint depression site. Reduction was achieved by expanding the balloon and stabilisation by injecting the cavity with resorbable tricalcium-phosphate cement in the younger patients and polymethyl-metacrylate cement in the two elderly patients with osteoporosis. No internal fixation was used.

RESULTS: No intra-operative, postoperative, or delayed complications were recorded. Median hospital stay length was 4.5 days (range, 3-7 days). All the fractures healed within the usual timeframe, without loss of reduction. Median time to full weight-bearing ambulation was 52.5 days (range, 15-75 days). The functional outcomes correlated with the good anatomic results, with a median American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score of 87.0 (range, 86-97).

DISCUSSION: This preliminary study shows that balloon reduction and cement fixation of intra-articular calcaneal fractures is easy to perform, reproducible, and devoid of specific complications. Good-quality reduction and stabilisation until fracture healing were achieved, and time to recovery of self-sufficiency was short, even in elderly patients with osteoporosis. These results support the use of this minimally invasive technique.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, retrospective study.