Open calcaneus fractures are rare but severe injuries. Highenergy
trauma often causes significant soft tissue and bone
damage, posing extraordinary challenges for treatment.3
The rates of complications associated with treatment are
high, including malunion, nonunion, and fracture-related
infections.5 These complications are associated with an
amputation rate of the lower limb of 8%.2 Even if amputation
is avoided and treatment and complication management
are successful, the patient’s quality of life is
compromised, similar to those suffering from bone infections
in the long bones. Apart from compromised soft tissue,
bone defects present the main obstacle to successful
treatment. Anatomical bone reconstruction becomes
difficult, if not impossible, in cases of severe compound
fractures. Open fractures necessitate thorough surgical
debridement to prevent infection, which may result in significant
bone defects requiring bone reconstruction.3,4
Given the immense challenges of surgical treatment following
high-energy injuries, where bone transplantation and
extensive osteosynthesis offer limited promise, we present a
case illustrating an atypical subtalar arthrodesis and hindfoot
reconstruction in a patient with a Gustilo type IIIa°
comminuted calcaneus fracture.