The decision tree for the base case analysis. The tree represents the choice between the two strategies: operative and nonoperative management of patients with a displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture (DIACF). With each choice, the patient has a chance of having a complication (or not) and having an arthrodesis (or not) based on the probabilities in the study by Buckley et al.6. These probabilities are shown as percentages at each node. The total costs and benefit in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) have been placed at the end of each decision pathway. The calculated cost and benefit per patient, in the base case, have been placed at the decision branches. Operative treatment is less costly (saving an average of $19,000 per patient) and more effective (gaining 0.07 quality-adjusted life years).