Calcaneal fractures: particularity of epidemiology

Abstract

Introduction: Fractures of the calcaneus are the commonest fractures of the hindfoot which have low incidence, but frequently require complex reconstructive surgery, and cause significant longterm disability. These occur most often in young individuals, and continue to have devastating consequences for many patients. Purpose: The aim of this study was to review the epidemiology of injury. Methods: Data were collected from the database of National Scientific-Practical Center of Emergency Medicine, in the period between years 2009-2011. Over this period 226 patients were treated in our unit. Details about patients were retrospectively recorded, together with details of their injury and primary treatment. Results: Analysing 226 care histories of the patients with calcaneus fractures it was determined that most (85,8%) were intraarticular (thalamic), 22 patients(9.7%) extrathalamic, 4 patients with combinate bilateral fractures and 6 patients without dislocations. Fractures were much commoner in males, weith a male to female ratio of 4:1 and the mean patient age was 45 years (43 in males, and 48 in females).Over three-quarters of the calcaneal fractures were isolated injuries, and 16.1% had multiplesystem injuries. Of the 226 fractures, 12 (5.3%) were open. The most common mechanism of injury was a fall from height - 92.9% of patients.Conservative treatment of calcaneal fractures was applied on 78.3% of patients. Conclusions: This study is limited to a retrospective nature of data collection,and inevitably some information was not recorded in the case reports.