A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN SURGICAL AND CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF DISPLACED INTRAARTICULAR CALCANEUM FRACTURES

Background: Calcaneum fractures account for 2% of all fractures, with 75% being intra-articular. Their management poses significant challenges due to varied treatment options and outcomes. This study aims to compare the functional outcomes of conservative and surgical management for displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures. Methods: In a twoyear 6 month period, 24 patients with intra-articular fractures were treated. The mean age was 40 years (83% male). Right calcaneum fractures were present in 58% of cases. All patients experienced falls from height. Using the Sanders classification, fractures were divided into conservative (n=12) and surgical (n=12) management groups. Surgical intervention involved open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) using locking plates. Of the 24 f Results: ractures, 8 Type I fractures were managed conservatively with a Modified Rowe score of 80 (Good). Among Type II fractures, 3 were conservatively managed (score 60) and 7 underwent ORIF (score 86.6, Excellent). For Type III fractures, 2 were conservatively managed (score 50, Poor) while 4 were surgically treated (score 80, Good). Complications included superficial infections in 3 surgical cases and wound debridement in 2. Conservative management led to minor plaster sores and joint stiffness. Sanders Type I fractures can be effectively treated conservatively with Conclusion: satisfactory outcomes. However, Type II and III fractures managed conservatively may yield poor results, suggesting that surgical intervention is preferable for achieving optimal functional recovery in these cases. Further studies are warranted to refine treatment protocols for these challenging injuries