Fractured Calcaneus, Dorsal View

Description

Seen from a dorsal (superior) perspective, the calcaneus occupies the posterior hindfoot with the talus seated immediately superior to it at the subtalar joint, while the cuboid lies distal and slightly lateral at the calcaneocuboid articulation. A fracture line traverses the superior surface of the calcaneal body near the posterior talar facet, interrupting the smooth contour of the subtalar articular surface. Articular cartilage is indicated over the superior facets, clarifying the relationship between the posterior facet laterally, the middle facet over the sustentaculum tali medially, and the anterior facet approaching the distal calcaneus. Bone landmarks remain readable. Dorsal visualization of the calcaneus matters because most clinically relevant patterns are intra-articular and propagate through the posterior facet, the load-bearing surface that determines subtalar congruity and long-term risk of post-traumatic subtalar arthritis. Displacement here correlates with loss of calcaneal height and widening, and it drives decisions between nonoperative care, percutaneous fixation, or open reduction through a sinus tarsi or extensile lateral approach while protecting the sural nerve laterally and the tibial neurovascular bundle medial to the sustentaculum. This is the fracture orthopaedic trauma services triage daily. Use this plate in gross anatomy labs for the tarsus and subtalar joint, in an orthopaedic surgery lecture covering calcaneal fracture classification and fixation strategy, or in a radiology teaching file to pair a dorsal surface drawing with CT coronal reformats of the posterior facet and middle facet. It also fits cleanly in patient education materials explaining why heel fractures can lead to persistent hindfoot stiffness and pain after union. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.