RT Journal
A1Scranton, Jr. ,Pierce E.
T1 Commentary on an article by Trevor Gaskill, MD, et al.: “Comparison of Surgical Outcomes of Intra-Articular Calcaneal Fractures by Age”
JF The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
JO The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
YR 2010
FD December 15
VO 92
IS 18
SP e40 1
OP 1
DO 10.2106/JBJS.J.01304
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.J.01304
AB 
This well-constructed study examines the treatment outcome of open reduction and internal fixation in calcaneal fractures as related to patient age. It is a study that will be repeated time and again, across the spectrum of orthopaedic procedures, as improvements are made in surgical devices and technique and as our perceptions change with regard to the age at which a patient might be considered to be an "older" patient. Given the previous literature1,2, which indicated that patients who were older than fifty years of age and had calcaneal fractures were not candidates for open reduction and internal fixation, this study nicely takes a retrospective look at outcomes in older and younger patient groups and comes up with well-reasoned conclusions.