Objective: The mini-invasive technique, through a sinus tarsi approach (STA), has become an increasingly popular choice for the treatment of calcaneal fractures. However, despite the good results reported, the complications related with internal fixation have not yet been analyzed. Using 3D reconstruction CT scans, we proposed doing biometric description of the calcaneus with the purpose of performing osteosynthesis as treatment for calcaneal fractures.
Methods: A total of 24 CT scans were retrospectively obtained from 22 consecutive patients with healthy calcanei and no history of surgery or fracture. They included 18 males and 4 females; 14 right and 10 left calcanei. Mean age was 45.8 (range 19-79). The width and length of the screws needed to fix a calcaneal fracture with a predefined montage were measured.
Results: The results focus on biometric measurements obtained from CT scans that may help surgeons achieve proper positioning, angulation and length of the screws needed for the internal fixation of calcaneal fractures.
Conclusion: This study describes a series of biometric calcaneal measurements that are useful for the internal fixation of calcaneal fractures using a sinus tarsi approach. The purpose is to minimize the complications resulting from osteosynthesis to treat these fractures.
La técnica a través del abordaje del seno del tarso (AST), se ha convertido en una opción cada vez más popular para el tratamiento de las fracturas de calcáneo. A pesar de los buenos resultados reportados, las complicaciones relacionadas con la fijación interna no han sido analizadas aún. A través de mediciones en tomografías computadas con reconstrucción 3D (TC) hemos planteado el objetivo de realizar una descripción del calcáneo aplicada al uso de osteosíntesis en fracturas de dicho hueso.
Keywords: Calcaneus; analysis; internal fixation; surgical approach.