ObjectiveThis paper aims to identify the most effective surgical technique for intraarticular
calcaneal fractures of Sanders' types II and III.MethodsSystematic review of comparative randomized clinical trials on surgical treatment of
the intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus (Sanders types II and III) that used the
questionnaire of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. The studies were
identified and retrieved in the following databases - LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane
Library, SciELO, EMBASE, Science Direct, Scopus, Journals@Ovid, ISI Web of Knowledge,
Evidence Based Medicine, besides consulting the references of studies accessed. The
keywords used Boolean logic (AND and OR): "calcaneus fracture, calcaneous, calcaneal;
surgical treatment, management; open reduction, minimally invasive, percutaneous
reduction; internal fixation, external fixation.ResultsWe identified only three randomized comparative trials. Each study compared a different
technique (external fixation, percutaneous fixation with Kirchner wires and cannulated
screws fixation) to the open reduction with internal fixation using plate and screws
(considered the standard technique).ConclusionComparing the series, percutaneous fixation using Kirschner wires presented the best
results, however, evidence is insufficient to assert superiority of this treatment in
comparison with other surgical techniques.