Open reduction and internal fixation of calcaneal fractures with a low profile titanium calcaneal perimeter plate.

Forty-two intra-articular calcaneus fractures underwent open reduction and internal fixation with a low profile, titanium plate with a shape similar to the lateral aspect of the calcaneus. All 42 fractures healed without complication. There were no cases of hardware breakage. None of the patients were noted to have a loss of reduction. The plates were applied without bending and molded to the side of the calcaneus with tightening of the screws. No patient complained of symptomatic hardware during the follow-up period. With postoperative plain radiographs, the reduction was judged as anatomic in 35 patients, less than a 2 mm step off in six patients, and one patient with greater than 2 mm step off. Use of this new plate allows for easy application as it does not require contouring, is well tolerated without complaints of hardware prominence, and none of the hardware broke prior to fracture union.