Abstract: The man who has actually ‘fallen on feet’ is perhaps less fortunate than the idiom would suggest as he may have sustained fractures of spine, pelvis, and most importantly, Calcaneum. Despite the surgeon’s extensive experience with this injury, it’s a major socio-economic impact with regard to the time lost from work and recreation, and despite the attention given to it for many years throughout the world, whether to operate or conserve the intra articular fracture remains a dilemma. To compare the functional outcomes of intra-articular calcaneal fractures, treated with operative management by open reduction and internal fixation with plating and conservative management with cast application. The objectives were determined by the following parameters a) functional scoring system which includes: pain on activity, pain at rest, Range of Inversion/Eversion, Activity Return to Work Change in shoe size, Swelling. b) Radiographic assessment in form of X-rays and CT scan Bohler’s Angle, Heel varus deformity.
Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the functional outcomes of intra-articular calcaneal fractures, treated with operative management by open reduction and internal fixation with plating and conservative management with cast application.
Materials and Methods: It was a prospective, randomized, evaluative study. Patients in age group of 20-60 years were randomly divided into two groups of 20 each Group A – Operative group, Group B – Conservative group. Open fractures & Patients presenting after 2 weeks of injury were excluded from the study.
Results: The functional outcome of operative group (mean 83.9) was slightly better than the conservative group (mean 78.22). But this was not statistically significant. A large previous trial showed similar results. Approximately 73% (22) patients from both groups had good to excellent results.
Conclusion: Displaced and comminuted fractures managed surgically have a relatively better functional outcome as compared to conservative. Functional outcomes of operative group weren’t significantly better than those of conservative group.
