Outcomes and advances in hindfoot fractures

Fractures of the hindfoot have been fraught with long-term posttraumatic disability. In recent years, interest has focused on preventing disability with improved primary operative techniques and treatment of late complications. Recent work has advanced our biomechanical and patho-anatomic understanding of these injuries. Various techniques have been described over the past year to reduce the soft tissue complications that are so problematic with calcaneus fractures. In addition, cement augmentation has been explored as a means of fostering earlier weight bearing in these patients. Recent literature dealing with talus injuries is less abundant, but a number of papers have described diagnosis and treatment of less common fracture types. New fixation devices for this injury have also been investigated. Although the well-described complication of posttraumatic avascular necrosis of the talus has not recently been studied, a paper presenting a technique for addressing malunion of talar neck fractures is reviewed.