OBJECTIVETo evaluate percutaneous reduction by Kirschner pin and internal fixation with cancellous screw and plate through minimal incision at the lateral side of heel for the treatment of intra-articular displacement fracture of calcaneus.

METHODSFrom September 2009 to June 2012, 80 patients with close intra-articular displacement fractures of calcaneus were divided into treatment group and control group. There were 40 patients in the control group, including 21 males and 19 females, ranging in age from 23 to 64 years old, averaged (39.1 +/-11.7) years old; and the patients were treated with fixation by compress screws and plates of self-broken type. There were 40 patients in the treatment group, including 24 males and 16 females,ranging in age from 21 to 67 years old, averaged (39.6+/-14.3) years old;and the patients were treated with full thread cancellous screws and plates fixation. The fixation time,intra-operative blood loss and the number of injured medial plntar nerve were compared between the two groups. The Böhler angle, Gissane angle and the correction degree of calcaneal width were measured at 1 year after operation. The internal fixators were taken out after 1 year. The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score was used to evaluate therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up,and the duration ranged from 9 to 32 months, with a mean of 16 months. There were shorter operation time, less injury, satisfactory postoperative Böhler angle and calcaneal width in treatment group compared with control group,which reduced the medial neurovascular injuries, and the plate was easily removed after fracture healing.

CONCLUSIONFull thread cancellous screws and plate fixation for the treatment of calcaneal fractures could get same therapeutic effects as compress screws and plate of self-broken type fixation, and also has follow advantages: shortening the operation time, reducing blood loss, easily to be removed, avoiding the medial neurovascular damage, reducing the incidence of complications.