“ORIF” for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures in children

•The characteristics of intra-articular calcaneal fractures in children are similar to those in adults.•Operative treatment of these fractures, to restore calcaneal anatomical alignment yields good short-term results.•Due to rarity of this fracture in children, we believe that a larger patient series with longer follow-up is needed to compare conservative versus operative treatment of pediatric calcaneal fractures.

BackgroundCalcaneal fractures in children are rare injuries, and those with displaced intra-articular fracture patterns are found even less frequently. Recent data in the adult literature have suggested operative treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures leads to a more favorable outcome.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to analyze the outcomes of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures in children treated by open reduction and internal fixation.MethodsTen displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures in 10 patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Mean age was 10.2 (6–12 years). According to Sanders’ classification, there were 8 patients who had Sanders’ Type II fractures, and 2 children sustained Type III fracture. All patients were followed up with a mean 20.3 months (range 6–30). Clinical score according to the (AOFAS) was 95.8 (range 78–100).ConclusionThe characteristics of intra-articular calcaneal fractures in children are similar to those in adults and, from our experience, operative treatment of these fractures, to restore calcaneal anatomical alignment yields good short-term results.