Enhancing orthopaedic resident competency in calcaneal fracture evaluation with Sanders classification: A…

StudyFoot and ankle surgery : official journal of the European Society of Foot and Ankle Surgeons· Jul 2026

Enhancing orthopaedic resident competency in calcaneal fracture evaluation with Sanders classification: A comparative study of computed tomography, 3D printing and virtual reality.

Mete Özer, Ece Davutluoğlu, Yahya Deniz … Önder Aydıngöz

Orthopedic TraumaStudyClinical practiceQ1IF 2.6

3D-printed models gave residents the highest agreement classifying calcaneal fractures

Enhancing orthopaedic resident competency in calcaneal fracture evaluation with Sanders classification: A comparative study of computed tomography, 3D printing and virtual reality.

Mete Özer … Önder Aydıngöz

Foot and ankle surgery · Jul 2026 · Q1 in Orthopedics

Background

Of intra-articular calcaneal fractures using the Sanders classification remains challenging because of complex three-dimensional morphology.

Purpose

This study compared CT, 3D printing, and virtual reality (virtual reality) for Sanders classification.

Methods

Thirty-three calcaneal fractures were assessed by 25 orthopaedic residents using CT, 3D-printed models, and virtual reality.

ICC = 0.90

Results

ICC = 0.90

3D printing gave residents the most consistent fracture classifications between raters

More results

CT showed the highest overall classification accuracy (p < 0.001).

Agreement and accuracy were not affected by training level or session.

Virtual reality was the preferred modality (80%).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

3D visualization improved interobserver agreement, whereas CT remained the most accurate modality. virtual reality showed strong perceived educational value.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Modality-dependent differences suggest that 3D methods may complement and refine CT-based Sanders classification. LEVEL: Level II diagnostic evidence.

Enhancing orthopaedic resident competency in calcaneal fracture evaluation with Sanders classification: A comparative study of computed tomography, 3D printing and virtual reality.

Enhancing orthopaedic resident competency in calcaneal fracture evaluation with Sanders classification: A comparative study of computed tomography, 3D printing and virtual reality.

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