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How serious is a calcaneal fracture?
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I have injured my heel and have a fracture. Will I need surgery and what is involved? -
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Mr Wei-Han Tay
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Mr Wei-Han Tay is an Australian-trained Orthopaedic Surgeon who specialises in the treatment of foot and ankle conditions, and trauma. Wei-Han obtained his undergraduate medical … View Profile
An intra-articular fracture of the calcaneum is often a significant injury with a prolonged recovery period. For acute injuries, it is recommended that you remain non-weight-bearing through your injured foot until you have sought specialist advice. The principles of surgical fixation include to restore the congruity of the articular surfaces of the subtalar joint and to reconstruct the shape (alignment, width and height) of the heel. The purpose of the aforementioned is to reduce the risk of post traumatic arthritis (inflammation of a joint characterised by pain and stiffness) and to create a ‘shoe-able’ foot (or a foot that can fit into a normal shoe). Fixation of an intra-articular calcaneal fracture normally involves using a plate and screws with bone graft (usually borrowed from your leg or knee). Patients who develop symptomatic subtalar arthritis and who have failed non-operative management may eventually require a fusion of their subtalar joint.
