The Effect of External Distractor on Recovery of B hler angle in Displaced Intraarticular Calcaneal Fractures

Hwang, Deuk Soo; Rhee, Kwang Jin; Lee, June Kyu; Choi, Jung Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE
: We had studied the results retrospectively in displaced intraarticular calcaneal fractures treated with internal fixation by screw for thalamic portion and percutaneous pinning by K-wire using minimal Ollier's lateral approach, so we had reported good results, but recovery of B hler angle loss was difficult technically. So, we used intraoperative external distractor combined with previous our method.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
: We analysed retrospectively B hler angle and clinical results on 12 cases with clcaneal fracture, who underwent an operation for displaced intraarticular calcaneal fracture by using external distractor from January 1997 to August 1998. B hler angle were measured at preoperative, postoperative and last follow-up X-ray. Surgical technique is through minimal Ollier's lateral approach, reduced and fixed with screw of displaced posterior facet and used intraoperative external distractor for restoring of deperssed calcaneal tuberosity and then did percutaneous pinning with K-wire. RESULTS : In the previous our reports, the mean preoperative and postoperative B hler angle were -0.9degrees, 19.1degreeseach other and the mean recovery of B hler angle was 20.1degrees. After we use the intraoperative external distractor, the mean preoperative and postoperative B hler angle were 0.92degrees, 26.0degreeseach other and the mean recovery of B hler angle is 26.9degrees. It is nearly normal range of korean's B hler angle (31.1degrees+/-0.4 degrees). Also there is no complication such as intraoperative calcaneal tuberosity fracture and soft tissue injury(skin necrosis, neurovascular injury).
CONCLUSION
: We obtained enough restoration of B hler angle to normal range by using our previous method combined with intraoperative external distractor.