Abstract:[Objective] To compare the healing of L-shaped lateral incision by figure-of-eight vertical tight suture versus Allg?werDonati vertical mattress suture for open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of calcaneal fractures. [Methods] From January 2018 to Febru- ary 2021, 60 patients received ORIF for Sanders type III calcaneal fractures through L-shaped lateral incision. Of them, 31 patients had the incision closed by figure- of- eight vertical tight suture (the figure- 8 group) , while the remaining 29 patients were with traditional Allg?wer-Donati vertical mattress suture (the AD group) . The early local skin reaction and incision healing were compared between the two groups. [Results] The figure-8 group proved significantly superior to the AD group in terms of the incision closure time, the severity of ear- ly skin reaction and the area of early severe skin reaction (P＜0.05) . The incision skin temperature remained unchanged significantly over time in both groups (P＞0.05) , which were not statistically significantly different between the two groups at any matching time points (P＞ 0.05) . In the figure-8 group, 3 cases had partial necrosis of the epidermis at the arc site of the incision without infection and dehiscing, which healed delayed by dressing change. In contrast, in AD group, 6 cases had incision dehiscing at the "L" shaped corner, which healed after 4 weeks of dressing change, additionally other 3 cases had wound infection with internal fixation exposed, which healed by removal of internal fixation, wound dressing change for 8 weeks. The figure-8 group was significantly superior to the AD group in term of incision heal- ing (P＜0.05) . [Conclusion] This figure-of-eight vertical tight suture does reduce local adverse reactions and improve incision healing.