Sural nerve and peroneal tendon injuries are more common withthe extensile approach. The sural nerve should be protected at theproximal and distal extremes of the wound. Peroneal tendons areparticularly vulnerable because the flap is elevated over a protrudinglateral wall, especially if the tendons are dislocated by the wall.Patients with intra-articular calcaneal fractures can expect somedegree of long-term swelling, stiffness, intermittent and sometimesconstant heel pain, and functional deficit. Rarely, necrosis of theavascular posterior facet fragments may occur, but if enough time isallowed for revascularization, collapse is rare.