Minimally Invasive Calcaneal Fracture Fixation vs Standard Lateral Approach

The standard extended lateral approach with L-shaped incision was made in this group, which originated vertically from 5 cm over lateral malleolus or the midpoint between the fibula and Achilles tendon and ended on the base of the fifth metatarsal . The incision is made directly to the bone at the corner to create a full-thickness flap. Attention must be paid to protect the sural nerve and peroneal tendons as well.

An incision is made from the tip of the lateral malleolus toward the base of the fourth metatarsal bone. The incision lies in a plane between the superficial peroneal nerve and the sural nerve. Care is taken to bluntly dissect after the skin incision to protect the sural nerve or branches of the superficial peroneal nerve. By mobilizing the sinus tarsi fat pad dorsally, the incision was deepened. The extensor digitorum brevis muscle is sharply elevated off of the anterior process with the lateral root of the inferior extensor retinaculum and reflected dorsally and distally. The peroneus brevis and peroneus longus tendons are split, allowing exposure to the sinus tarsi and visualization of the posterior facet of the subtalar joint.