Fractured Calcaneus, Lateral View

Description

Shown in lateral aspect, the male tarsus and forefoot are arranged from posterior calcaneus to anterior phalanges, with the talus perched superior to the calcaneal body and the cuboid positioned anterior to the calcaneus at the calcaneocuboid joint. The calcaneus (heel bone) dominates the hindfoot, its posterior tuberosity projecting inferiorly for the Achilles (calcaneal) tendon insertion, while the sustentaculum tali remains a medial shelf supporting the talar head and neck. A jagged fracture line crosses the calcaneal cortex with adjacent erythematous shading, and blue joint markings outline the subtalar and transverse tarsal articulations. Forefoot alignment is preserved, with metatarsals extending distally to the proximal, middle, and distal phalanges. Lateral calcaneal fractures matter because the hindfoot’s load path runs from talus to calcaneus and forward through the calcaneocuboid joint, so disruption alters subtalar congruity and heel height, often correlating with loss of Böhler angle on radiographs. Most intra-articular calcaneal fractures result from axial loading, classically a fall from height, and they frequently combine with comminution at the posterior facet even when the sustentaculum tali is comparatively spared (the “constant fragment” surgeons look for). Painful post-traumatic subtalar arthritis is the problem that lingers. Use this illustration when teaching hindfoot anatomy in gross anatomy, podiatric medicine, orthopaedic trauma, or radiographic positioning modules where students need to map bony landmarks to lateral foot X-ray findings and CT fracture patterns. It also fits surgical education content on extensile lateral or sinus tarsi approaches, and patient-facing materials explaining why calcaneal fractures can require prolonged non-weightbearing and later subtalar fusion. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.