Objective To design a new type of locking plate for effective fixation of the posterior talar surface of calcaneal bone, and to compare with ordinary locking plate to evaluate its therapeutic effect.

Methods The materials of 70 patients with calcaneal fracture were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different treatment methods, the patients were divided into observation group with 36 cases (treated with new type locking plate) and control group with 34 cases (treated with common locking plate). Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, fracture healing time, partial weight bearing time, incidence of postoperative complications, Bolher angle and Gissane angle were compared between the two groups. Ankle-hind foot scoring criteria of the American Orthopedic Foot Ankle Society (AOFAS) was used to evaluate postoperative functional recovery of affected foot.

Results All the patients were followed up for 12 to 15 months, with an average of (13.44±1.05) months. There were 2 cases of postoperative incision-related complications in the control group and no case occurred complications in the observation group. In the observation group, operation time, hospital stay, fracture healing time, partial weight bearing time, incidence of postoperative complications as well as Bolher angle, Gissane angle and excellence rate of AOFAS score at 6 months and the last follow-up were significantly better than those in the control group (P < 0.05); there were no significant differences in Bolher angle and Gissane angle before operation and immediately after operation as well as intraoperative blood loss between two groups (P>0.05).

Conclusion The new type locking plate has advantages such as reasonable concept, scientific design, simple intraoperative operation and fewer postoperative complications, which is significantly better than ordinary locking plate in the treatment of calcaneal fractures.