82 patients with a displaced intraarticular calcaneal fracture were randomized to either minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis using closed reduction and percutaneuous plate introduction, or a standard (conventional) approach for open reduction and plate fixation. Patients were assessed for surgical outcomes, length of stay, pain and functional outcome, and radiographic results. Operative time and length of hospital stay were both significantly shorter in the MIPO group compared to the conventional approach group, and the incidence of wound complications was significantly less frequent in patients who had received MIPO. Additionally, pain at 1 week after surgery significantly favoured the MIPO group. AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score at final follow-up (approximately 16-17 months) did not significantly differ between groups.