The surgical treatment of intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus using a new multiple-hole Tra.Ma plate. The long-term results in relation to gait analysis.

Intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus have always represented a controversial subject; numerous surgical methods involving synthesis have been proposed, but none of these is without complications. The authors describe the use of new multiple-hole Tra.Ma plate in 25 patients between 1997 and 1999; all of the fractures were classified based on routine CT scan and X-ray evaluation and the Bohler, DeLangre and Preiss preoperative angles were measured 2 and 4 months later. All of the patients were also evaluated clinically and each of them underwent gait analysis using an electronic baropodometer. The Tra.Ma plate allows us to obtain satisfactory results both clinically and radiographically, also reducing the local complications related to the cumbersome nature of previous instrumentation; gait analysis also revealed the distribution of load comparable to that of the contralateral limb.