Gaenslen’s Split Heel Approach for the Treatment of Chronic Osteomyelitis of the Calcaneus: A series of three cases

Abstract

Background: Osteomyelitis of the calcaneum with non-healing ulcer is an old but challenging entity to orthopaedic surgeons. Acute osteomyelitis is treated by intravenous antibiotics and drainage. There are different surgical procedures to manage chronic osteomyelitis of calcaneum i.e. partial, total calcanectomy, split heel approach and vascularized flaps to cover the ulcer. In this reported series, the split heel approach has been adopted as a safe procedure with an excellent outcome in selected cases. Materials and Methods: A series of three cases including different age group and sex characteristics with osteomyelitis of the calcaneus are reported. All patients underwent the split heel approach to address the osteomyelitis. Results: All three cases healed with a thin scar over the planter surface of heel and it was painless on walking after follow up of almost four years without recurrence of osteomyelitis. Conclusions: The split heel approach is an excellent, easy and safe way of management for chronic osteomyelitis of calcaneum with a centrally located ulcer in selected cases.