Combined ipsilateral fractures of talus and calcaneus.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of combined ipsilateral talar and calcaneal fractures, the fracture pattern in combination and the clinical outcome of the combined operative treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of 950 patients with calcaneal fractures and 190 patients with talar fractures treated operatively between 1984 and 2003, 11 patients (1% of calcaneal and 6% of talar fractures) were identified with combined ipsilateral talar and calcaneal fractures. Closed reduction and external fixation was performed in one patient with a crush foot injury, and ORIF in all other patients and fractures. All patients underwent clinical and radiological evaluation after a minimum followup period of one year using the AOFAS-Hindfoot Score.

RESULTS: Seven patients had central talar body and 4 patients talar neck fractures. Nine calcaneal fractures were extraarticular sustentaculum, as well as processus anterior fractures, and two were intraarticular fractures. Average followup was 6 (range, 1 to 12.5; median, 4.5) years. There were no perioperative complications related to ORIF. AOFAS-Hindfoot-Score averaged 78.6 (range, 50 to 100). The followup x-rays showed post-traumatic arthritis in the ankle joint in 3 patients and in the subtalar joint in five. AVN with peudarthorsis was present in one patient with an intraarticular calcaneal fracture. Patients with intraarticular calcaneal fractures presented with the worst functional results (AOFAS-Score, 50 and 64), none of these patients required a secondary ankle or subtalar fusion. All other patients had good and excellent functional outcome.

CONCLUSION: Combined ipsilateral talar and calcaneal fractures are rare injuries. Extraarticular calcaneal fractures are more common in this injury pattern, while there was no preference for either talar neck or talar body fractures. Operative treatment with anatomic open reduction and internal fixation may result in favorable clinical outcome. Combined surgical approaches to the hindfoot did not result in increased morbidity.