Surgical versus non-surgical treatment of calcaneal fractures in children: a long-term results comparative study.

This study compared surgical and non-surgical treatment of 46 calcaneal fractures in children aged 3-17 years. Patients were divided into: Group A ranging 3-14 years and Group B 15-17 years, and classified according to surgical or non-surgical treatment. Mean follow-up was 22.8 years. Extra-articular fractures were treated non-surgically and all results were satisfactory. Results of articular fractures in Group A were satisfactory regardless of the type of treatment. Articular fractures surgically treated in group B were satisfactory, and those non-surgically treated were mainly poor. Extra-articular fractures can be treated non-surgically. Articular fractures in skeletally immature children can be treated non-surgically; conversely, those in children with skeletal maturity must be treated surgically.