March 3, 2026Open Access

Bilateral total calcanectomy for chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis: A case report

Key Points

Bilateral total calcanectomy achieved infection eradication and complete pain relief.
At 24 months post-surgery, the patient demonstrated independent ambulation with custom orthopedic footwear.
Management of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis via calcanectomy provides a limb-salvage option in select cases.
Findings highlight the potential functional benefits of this rare surgical technique.

Abstract

Abstract Chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis represents a complex surgical challenge due to poor soft-tissue coverage, limited vascularity, and the weight-bearing function of the heel. While below-knee amputation has traditionally been considered the definitive treatment, calcanectomy offers a limb-salvage alternative in selected patients. Bilateral total calcanectomy is exceedingly rare, and functional outcomes remain uncertain. We report a case of bilateral total calcanectomy performed for chronic polymicrobial calcaneal osteomyelitis in a 66-year-old woman. At 24-month follow-up, infection eradication, complete pain relief, and independent ambulation with custom orthopedic footwear were achieved. Our case highlights that bilateral total calcanectomy may result in satisfactory functional outcomes in selected patients.

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Cite This Study

Thomas et al. (Thu,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a75ee8c6e9836116a29edf https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fastrc.2026.100609

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