Plate fixation

The goal of the treatment is bone healing with appropriate intra- and extraarticular reduction to maintain lateral column length. Early weight-bearing may be tolerated depending on the fracture pattern.

ORIF of the cuboid can generally be divided into five steps.

1. Reconstruction of length by distraction
2. Reconstruction of the articular surface using lag screws and/or K-wires
3. Grafting to fill any defects (if needed)
4. Application of cuboid plate to maintain the reconstruction (if possible)
5. Temporary bridging to support reconstruction until healing (if badly comminuted)

In the ideal case, the articular surface can be reconstructed using lag screws, and the length of the cuboid is maintained with a cuboid plate alone.

If comminution is severe or articular fixation can only be fixed with K-wires, a cuboid plate may not provide enough stability to maintain length during healing. The reconstruction is then protected using a bridging device until the fracture is healed. A bridging device is also utilized if the articular surface is reconstructed, but a plate cannot be applied.

The timing of surgery is influenced by the soft tissue injury and the patient's physiologic status. 

The calcaneocuboid joint and the talonavicular joints are responsible for complex hindfoot circumduction.

Lateral column length is critical to maintaining the shape and function of the foot. Therefore, the cuboid length must be maintained.

The procedure is performed with the patient placed supine with the knee flexed 90°.

Fractures of the cuboid are best approached through the dorsolateral approach to the cuboid.

The soft tissues, including capsule and periosteum, are often disrupted. Care should be taken to minimize soft-tissue stripping during the approach, which will help maintain the blood supply to the fragments.

Use a lateral-column distractor to achieve the articular surface visualization needed for accurate reduction and fixation.

Distraction is essential when dealing with comminution or a delay between the injury and the definitive reduction.

Insert the external fixator pins through stab incisions in the calcaneus proximally and the fifth metatarsal distally.

• Safe zones for pin insertion

The distraction vector should be parallel to the plantar aspect of the lateral foot.

The fracture is distracted to allow complete visualization of either joint surface as needed.

Irrigate the fracture site using, eg, a syringe.

Use a curved elevator to restore the joint surface. The opposing articular surface of the head of the calcaneus, cuneiform, or metatarsals serves as a template.

It may be helpful to have a variety of elevators available to aid reduction.

K-wires may be used to maintain the relationship between the cuboid fragments and the adjacent bones.

When adjacent joint surfaces are used as a template, verification of the reduction can become problematic if the fragments are fixed with a transarticular K-wire.

If possible, free fragments with articular surface should be salvaged and secured with small lag screws. In contrast to lag screws inserted in the diaphysis, these lag screws will typically not penetrate the far cortex, as this would damage the opposite articular surface.  If screw fixation is not possible, pins or K-wires can be used.

• Cortical lag screws

Ideally, the reconstruction should be made by inserting hardware only into the cuboid.

Hardware may be inserted into the cuneiforms or metatarsals for added support.

While reconstructing the joint surface, frequently check to ensure no malreduction occurs.

Once the articular surface has been reconstructed, the distraction can be adjusted to restore the lateral column length.

It is helpful to have comparative x-rays from the uninjured side, allowing proper length and morphology to be judged.

The remaining defect can then be bone grafted using cancellous or corticocancellous bone graft for structural support harvested from the distal or proximal tibia.

A cuboid plate should ideally be applied to maintain the length of the lateral column.

If the reconstructed cuboid is relatively stable, plates with non-locking screws can be used.

For severely comminuted or osteoporotic bone, locking head screws should be used.

Contour the cuboid plate to fit the individual anatomy. 

Care must be taken to prevent screw penetration of the joint surfaces. If fixed angle locking head screws are used, additional contouring of the plate may be necessary to prevent joint penetration.

When contouring locking plates, care must be taken not to deform the screw holes.

Using intraoperative imaging, verify:

• Restoration of the appropriate length of the lateral column
• Restoration of cuboid shape
• Appropriate screw placement and length

A bridge plate or an external fixator may be used to supplement the cuboid reconstruction.

Bridging may be achieved using either an external fixator or a reconstruction plate until the cuboid has healed.

Such a plate or distractor must be removed subsequently to permit restoration of some joint motion.

Plating can be performed through the dorsolateral incision aligned with the fourth metatarsal. Soft-tissue stripping should be avoided if possible.

The plate length should allow for fixation using a minimum of three screws both proximally and distally.

The plate needs to be contoured to achieve a good fit and prevent tenting of the skin.

• In-plane bending to adapt to the arch of the lateral foot
• Out of plane bending to adapt to the lateral contour of the lateral column
• Torquing to fit both the vertical wall of the calcaneus proximally and the dorsal aspect of the fourth metatarsal distally

The step-by-step bending procedure is analog to the bending of reconstruction plates.

The plate may be pre-contoured using a saw-bone foot model and fine-tuned in situ as an alternative to using a template.

Fix the bridge plate, using a minimum of three screws both proximally (calcaneus) and distally (fourth metatarsal).

• Locking head screw insertion

Instead of bridge plating, the lateral column distractor can be replaced with an external fixation construct, which can be left in place while the bone heals.

Two bicortical pins are inserted in both the calcaneus and the 5th metatarsal.

Supplemental fixation (screw or K-wire) can be placed from the fifth metatarsal (which can be rendered unstable by this injury) through the fourth metatarsal into the third metatarsal, or lateral cuneiform; which will further prevent lateral column shortening.

The bridging device should be removed when there is radiographic evidence of cuboid healing, typically a minimum of three months.

The non-adherent antibacterial dressing is applied as a first layer. Sterile undercast padding is placed from toes to knee. Extra side and posterior cushion padding are added.

The foot should be immobilized for the first two weeks, which can be achieved using a three-sided plaster splint. The anterior area is left free of plaster to allow for swelling. Ensure that the splint’s medial and lateral vertical portions do not overlap anteriorly and that the splint does not compress the popliteal space or the calf.

The patient should be counseled to keep the leg on a cushion and elevated. Remember not to elevate the leg too much as it may impede the inflow. The foot’s ideal position is halfway between the waist and the heart when the patient is sitting. While seated, the foot should be on a cushion and elevated, but if badly swollen, the patient must be supine since elevating the foot while seated decreases swelling less effectively.

Avoid direct pressure against the heel during recumbency to prevent decubiti.

The OR dressing is usually left in place and not changed until the first postoperative visit at two weeks when x-rays are obtained once the dressing is removed. If any complication is suspected (eg, infection or compartment syndrome), the dressing must be split and, if necessary, removed to allow full inspection.

The strict non-weight bearing should be maintained until there is evidence of healing and any transfixion K-wires (6–12 weeks) or bridging devices (min 12 weeks) are removed.

Daily toe movement is encouraged.

Formal physical therapy should not begin in the early postoperative period.

A gastrocnemius release may need to be performed in cases with postoperative gastrocnemius contracture. This occurs more typically in the mid and hind-foot.