{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:45:50Z","timestamp":1760060750857,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,21]],"date-time":"2025-09-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1758412800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Internal project of the Institute of Medical Sciences of the University of Opole","award":["P-2023-001","P-2024-001"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["P-2023-001","P-2024-001"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: There is no consensus on the best treatment method for calcaneal fractures. The topic of lower limb biomechanics following calcaneal fracture treatment with various fixation methods has not been fully explored. The aim of the study was to assess the balance and load distribution of the lower limbs in patients after various methods of stabilization of calcaneal fractures. Methods: In this two-center study, we retrospectively collected data from 19 patients treated with internal plate fixation at a mean age of 46 years and 27 patients treated with Ilizarov external fixation at a mean age of 50 years. Using the Zebris Medical pedobarophragmatic platform, we assessed the percentage distribution of lower limb loads and balance. Results: There were no significant differences in total load distribution for both the operated (p = 0.489) and non-operated limb (p = 0.46), between the Ilizarov method group and the internal plate group. In the Ilizarov fixation group, total load distribution was 46.89% on the treated limb, and 53.11% on the uninjured limb, p = 0.077. In the internal plate fixation group, the mean total load distribution was 41.57% in the treated limb, and 57.89% in the uninjured limb, p = 0.008. The median CoG (center or gravity) sway path length was 132.41 cm and 170.21 cm in the Ilizarov and internal plate group, respectively, p = 0.023. The median CoG sway areas were 0.84 cm2 and 7.57 cm2 in the Ilizarov method group and internal plate fixation group, respectively, p &lt; 0.001. Conclusions: The Ilizarov method was associated with more symmetrical load distribution and improved balance performance compared to internal plate fixation. Static biomechanical parameters of calcaneal fracture treatment were better in the Ilizarov group compared to patients with internal plate fixation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm14186651","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,22]],"date-time":"2025-09-22T12:08:03Z","timestamp":1758542883000},"page":"6651","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Assessment of Biomechanics Following Calcaneal Fracture Treatment with Internal Plate Fixation or Ilizarov External Fixation: A Retrospective, Two-Center Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-8486-3636","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Igor","family":"Kowal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Multidisciplinary Hospital in Zgorzelec, Luba\u0144ska 11-12, 59-900 Zgorzelec, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-3889-0223","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marcin","family":"Pelc","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Opole, Oleska 48, 45-052 Opole, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Daniele","family":"Pili","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Orthopedic and Trauma Department, G B. Mangioni Hospital, Via L. Da Vinci 49, 23900 Lecco, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4644-0111","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u0141ukasz","family":"Tomczyk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Food Safety and Quality Management, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 31, 60-624 Pozna\u0144, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rados\u0142aw","family":"Operacz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Opole, al. Witosa 26, 45-401 Opole, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7587-666X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Piotr","family":"Morasiewicz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Opole, al. Witosa 26, 45-401 Opole, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.1186\/s13018-016-0426-6","article-title":"Radiographic and functional outcomes after displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures: A comparative cohort study among the traditional open technique (ORIF) and percutaneous surgical procedures (PS)","volume":"11","author":"Biz","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Orthop. Surg. 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