Analysis of the Calcaneocuboid Joint Involvement in Intraarticular Calcaneal Fractures

Shin, Won Ju; Yang, Sang Hoon; Park, Hong Ki

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was performed to analyze the characteristics of calcaneocuboid joint involvement in intraarticular calcaneal fractures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Total number of 92 patients (111 cases) who underwent operation for intraarticular calcaneal fractures between Jan. 2000 and Oct. 2005 were included in this study. The preoperative computed tomographs of the subjects were retrospectively reviewed to analyze calcaneocuboid joint involvement.
RESULTS
It was revealed that 63 cases (56.8%) involved calcaneocuboid joint; 29cases (46.0%) showed type 1 (undisplaced or minimally displaced type, articular gap < or =1 mm), 16 cases (25.4%) exhibited type 2 (moderately displaced type, articular gap > or =2 mm), 7 cases (11.1%) were included in type 3 (comminuted type) and 11 cases (17.5%) belonged to type 4 (fracture and dislocation). 48 out of 63 cases belonged to Sanders classification II and III that involved calcaneocuboid joint and included 25 cases (52.1%) of type 1 and 14 cases (29.2%) of type 2. Among 15 out of 63 cases included in Sanders classification IV, 4 (26.7%) showed type 1 and 6 (40.0%) belonged to type 4. According to our results, Sanders classification allowed to predict pattern of the involvement of calcaneocuboid joint (P<0.05). However, there was no statistically significant relationship between degree of posterior facet joint injuries and calcaneocuboid joint involvement (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Calcaneocuboid joint involvement in intraarticular calcaneal fractures was common and more than half showed severe injuries. We concluded that further studies on the involvement of calcaneocuboid joint should be performed prior to surgical treatment of intraarticular calcaneal fractures.