Calcaneus (Heel Bone) Fractures
After a fall from a height, if a person lands on the flat of their foot they can suffer a fracture of the heel bone. This can be associated with other injuries such as ankle fractures, fractures around the knee, hip or spine injuries.
The foot often becomes very swollen and painful.
The outcomes of all of these fractures are guarded, and the foot will never be the same as it was pre-injury. However, some of these injuries are suitable for non operative management (non weight bearing 8 weeks typically) as surgery does not confer any additional long term benefit.
In some cases, surgery will be recommended to: improve alignment at the joint surface below the ankle (subtalar joint), improve heel alignment and reduce heel width – to help with pain and function in the long term.
If surgery is recommended, this can often be done through minimally invasive incisions. It will require a long period (6-8 weeks) of non weight bearing after surgery. There is a high risk of adjacent joint arthritis and more surgery necessary in future.
Surgeries performed for this condition include: