Demographic features of intra-articular fractures of the calcaneum

Summary Demographic data on 216 patients with 242 intra-articular calcaneal fractures was studied. Eight fractures were compound. One hundred and seventy patients were men. In 91% of cases the mechanism was a fall or jump from height. Men fell from greater heights than women (14.2 ft vs. 9.8 ft, P = 0.0001). Associated injuries, seen in 22%, were related to height fallen and fractures sustained in road traffic accidents. Radiographic analysis was performed using methods described by Essex-Lopresti, Sanders, Atkins, Zwipp and Tscherne and Crosby and Fitzgibbon's. A correlation was demonstrated between the number of fracture fragments, the number of joints involved and the degree of subtalar comminution and the height fallen. Men and women sustained similar types of fractures. The overall outcome was 12.3% ‘poor', 17.4% ‘fair', 20% ‘good' and 50.3% ‘excellent'. Outcome following intra-articular calcaneal fractures is related to the degree of subtalar comminution and the number of fracture parts and joints involved.