J Korean Foot Ankle Soc.  2017 Jun;21(2):61-65. 10.14193/jkfas.2017.21.2.61.

A Study on the Estimation of Calcaneal Width Using a Correlation of Calcaneal Length and Width

• Chun DI
• Hwang SC
• Cho JH
• Choi SW
• Kim YB
• Won SH

• KMID: 2382426
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14193/jkfas.2017.21.2.61

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation and ratio between the calcaneal length and width for predicting the width of calcaneus.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 190 feet (190 patients) were included based on computed tomography scans. The length of calcaneus (CL) was measured on the line connecting the center of a circle tangent to the cortical margin in the anterior and posterior parts of the calcaneus in a sagittal plane (W1, W2). The width of the calcaneus was defined as the horizontal line of each part (W1, W2, W3) on the same axial plane. The relationship between the measurement was determined through a correlation analysis. The reliability was assessed based on intraclass correlation coefficients.
RESULTS
The CL and widths of calcaneus (W1, W2, W3) had a good positive correlation (r=0.848 [W1/CL], r=0.738 [W2/CL], r=0.769 [W3/CL]; p<0.001). The mean CL and widths ratios were 0.33 (W1/CL), 0.37 (W2/CL), and 0.37 (W3/CL). Using these ratios to estimate the widths by multiplying each ratio by the measured calcaneal length, we found a difference between the estimated calcaneal widths and the actual measured calcaneal widths values was 0.25 mm, 0.43 mm, and 0.16 mm. All measurements showed good-to-excellent inter- and intraobserver reliability.
CONCLUSION
This study analyzed the correlation and ratio between the length and width of the calcaneus. The results will help orthopedic surgeons fixate screws in a stable manner to prevent iatrogenic injuries to the medial neurovascular structures of the calcaneus.

Keyword

Calcaneus; Imaging; Three-dimensional; Correlation

MeSH Terms

Calcaneus
Foot
Orthopedics
Surgeons

Figure

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  Figure 1. Postoperative radiograph shows fixated screws of lateral to medial direction, and shows (asterisk) penetrates medial cortex of calcaneus.

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  Figure 2. Axial cutting level was decided depend on sagittal plane level involving a line connecting the center of a circle tangent to the cortical margin in the anterior (W1) and posterior (W3) parts of the calcaneus in the sagittal plane.

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  Figure 3. (A) The length of calcaneus (CL) measured on the line connecting the center of a circle tangent to the cortical margin in the anterior (W1) and posterior (W3) parts of the calcaneus in the sagittal plane. (B) The width of the calcaneus is defined as horizontal line of each part (W1, W2, W3) on same axial plane. L: length.

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