Case Report: Arthroscopic minimally invasive treatment of pediatric calcaneal fracture

Background Pediatric calcaneal fractures are rare and often result from high-energy trauma. Traditional open reduction carries risks of wound complications and soft tissue damage. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl with a comminuted intra-articular calcaneal fracture treated successfully with subtalar arthroscopy-assisted percutaneous reduction and internal fixation. Case summary A 13-year-old girl presented with left heel pain after a fall from a height. Imaging revealed a comminuted calcaneal fracture with posterior facet depression. Under general anesthesia, subtalar arthroscopy was used to visualize and reduce the depressed posterior facet percutaneously, followed by fixation with multiple Kirschner wires. The patient achieved fracture union by 2 months and regained full function with an AOFAS score of 95 at 3 months. No complications occurred. Conclusion Subtalar arthroscopy-assisted percutaneous fixation is a safe and effective minimally invasive option for selected pediatric calcaneal fractures, offering excellent visualization, anatomical reduction, and rapid recovery.