MRI in patients with Haglund's deformity and its influence on therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Heel pain is one of the common reasons why patients consult orthopaedic surgeons in an outpatient setting. The dorsal heel pain is often caused by a Haglund's deformity which is an exostosis of the posterior superior calcaneus. It often leads to Haglund's syndrome with calcaneal bursitis and Achilles tendinosis. This study aims to investigate the roll of MRI in diagnosis of Haglund's syndrome and its influence on therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data of 45 patients which clinically and radiologically confirmed Haglund's deformity. Patients were divided into two groups that either did not receive MRI (MRI_0) or received MRI (MRI_1). To evaluate the significance, Fisher´s test was used. A statistical significance was assumed at p < 0.05. RESULTS: The average age was 57.0 years. There was no significant difference in therapy comparing the groups MRI_0 and MRI_1. Haglund's syndrome was detected in 86.7% of all patients with Haglund's deformity. CONCLUSION: MRI does not influence the therapy of patients with Haglund's deformity. Therefore, the resources of this cost-intensive and limited type of investigation should be used elsewhere. In cases of atypical heel pain, the MRI might be useful.

Outcome of Corticosteroid Injections, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, and Radiofrequency Thermal Lesioning for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic heel pain with plantar fasciitis is relatively common and can affect adults of all ages regardless of an active or sedentary lifestyle. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of corticosteroid injection (CSI), extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), and radiofrequency thermal lesioning (RTL) treatments in chronic plantar heel pain that has been unresponsive to other conservative treatments. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the results of 217 patients treated with CSI (n = 73), ESWT (n = 75), and RTL (n = 69). The treatment efficacy and pain intensity, as measured using the visual analog scale, were recorded and compared at the 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Pain intensity decreased significantly in all patients. However, it decreased significantly more in the CSI and RTL groups than in the ESWT group (P < .001). Age, sex, body mass index, calcaneal spur presence, and symptom duration were similar among 3 groups (P > .05). No complications were noted after the CSI, ESWT, or RTL sessions. CONCLUSION: CSI, ESWT, and RTL successfully treated chronic plantar heel pain that did not respond to other conservative treatments; however, CSI and RTL yielded better therapeutic outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Ground reaction force analysis for assessing the efficacy of focused and radial shockwaves in the treatment of symptomatic plantar heel spur.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is among the conservative treatments for symptomatic heel spur. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this trial is to evaluate and compare the therapeutic effects of radial shock wave (RSWT) and focused shock wave (FSWT) applied in the treatment of symptomatic heel spur. METHODS: Fifty-five participants were randomly divided into two comparative groups that were administered FSWT and RSWT, respectively. The severity of dysfunction (Foot Function Index, FFI), ground reaction forces (GRF) and walking temporal parameters were measured in all patients at baseline and at weeks 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 after treatment. RESULTS: In both groups, a gradual decrease in the FFI values occurred after treatment. The percentage reduction in the FFI was comparable for both groups. Statistically significant changes were only noted between some measurements of GRF and walking temporal parameters. The percentage changes in the values of the force and temporal parameters were similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both FSWT and RSWT are efficacious in the treatment of symptomatic heel spur and their therapeutic effects are comparable. Objective data registered by force platforms during walking are not useful for tracing the progress of treatment applied to patients with symptomatic heel spur between consecutive procedures.

CT findings of a unicameral calcaneal bone cyst containing a fluid-fluid level.

Calcaneal unicameral bone cysts often contain fluid, but rarely contain fluid-fluid levels. We present a case focusing on the CT findings of a large calcaneal bone cyst with a fluid-fluid level and a review of the literature.

Plantar heel pain.

Plantar heel pain is a common complaint encountered by orthopedic surgeons, internists, and family practitioners. Although it is most often caused by plantar fasciitis, this is a diagnosis of exclusion. Other mechanical, rheumatologic, and neurologic causes must be considered first. The history and physical examination are typically all that is needed to make the proper diagnosis, but diagnostic adjuncts are available to assist the clinician. When plantar fasciitis is diagnosed, conservative modalities must be tried first. Corticosteroid injections and extracorporeal shock-wave therapy may also be used. After 6 months of failed conservative treatments, surgical intervention should be considered.

Sever's injury: a clinical diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of Sever's injury (apophysitis calcanei) has previously been partly based on radiographic findings in the calcaneal apophysis. Sclerosis and fragmentation have been supposed to represent signs of inflammation due to tractions from the Achilles tendon. The clinical findings, diagnostic criteria, and studied population are often poorly defined. We sought to define diagnostic criteria by analyzing clinical and radiographic characteristics in a population with Sever's injury and to compare the findings with those of a control group of matched, symptom-free children. METHODS: We assessed 30 consecutive children with Sever's injury with high levels of pain but high physical activity levels in sports activities and 15 pain-free matched controls. RESULTS: One-leg heel standing showed 100% sensitivity; the squeeze test, 97%; and the palpation test, 80%. All three tests showed 100% specificity. All of the patients and controls showed increased density of the apophysis. Half of the pain-free controls showed fragmentation versus almost 90% of children with heel pain. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of Sever's injury is clinical, not radiologic. Radiologic findings of increased density and fragmentation are found also in pain-free controls with high levels of physical activity and may, therefore, represent normal growth and development. We suggest that the diagnosis of Sever's injury should be based on patient history and the results of two specific clinical tests.

Calcaneal osteotomy preoperative planning system with 3D full-sized computer-assisted technology.

In this study, we developed a CT-based computer-assisted pre-operative planning and simulating system for the calcaneal osteotomy by integrating different software's function. This system uses the full-scaled 3D reverse engineering technique in designing and developing preoperative planning modules for the calcaneal osteotomy surgery. The planning system presents a real-sized three-dimensional image of the calcaneus, and provides detailed interior measurements of the calcaneus from various cutting planes. This study applied computer-assisted technology to integrate different software's function to a surgical planning system. These functions include 3-D image model capturing, cutting, moving, rotating and measurement for relevant foot anatomy, and can be integrated as the user's function. Furthermore, the system is computer-based and computer-assisted technology. Surgeons can utilize it as part of preoperative planning to develop efficient operative procedures. This system also has a database that can be updated and extended and will provide the clinical cases to different users for experienced based learning.

The influence of local steroid injections, body weight and the length of symptoms in the treatment of painful subcalcaneal spurs with extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for the treatment of painful subcalcaneal spurs and evaluate whether local steroid injections, body weight and the length of symptoms can affect the clinical results. DESIGN: Subjects were selected through clinical examination and heel radiograms according to diagnosis of painful subcalcaneal spurs. SUBJECTS: Sixty-four subjects were divided into two groups of treatment depending on their past history of previous local steroid injections. INTERVENTIONS: Each subject received a three-session ESWT (performed weekly). A rehabilitative programme was instituted, consisting of self-assisted plantar fascia and plantar flexors stretching exercises. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Mayo Clinical Scoring System (MCSS) was utilized to evaluate each subject before the treatment and at two- and ten-month follow-ups. In addition, standard radiograms were done both before the treatment and at the ten-month follow-up. RESULTS: Patients with no past treatment using steroids did not show any statistically significant improvement of the MCSS at the two-month follow-up. The statistical significance was obtained at the ten-month follow-up. Patients with past treatment using steroids did not show any statistically significant improvement of the MCSS at either follow-up. At the radiogram check, none of the subjects showed any modification of the heel spurs. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the present study ESWT should be considered as an effective treatment for painful subcalcaneal spurs. Previous local steroid injections may negatively affect the result of ESWT.

Low-dose radiotherapy for painful heel spur. Retrospective study of 117 patients.

PURPOSE: Retrospective analysis of 117 patients treated between 1996 and 2000 with low-dose radiotherapy (RT) for painful heel spurs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 71 women and 46 men were irradiated on 136 painful heel spurs in one (n = 104) or two radiation series (n = 13). The painful spurs were located either at the plantar (n = 94), dorsal (n = 5) or bilateral heel (n = 18). 82 patients had prior treatments, in 35 patients RT was the primary treatment. Low-dose RT was performed twice a week with one 6-MV photon field. Ten fractions of 0.5 Gy were applied to a total dose of 5 Gy. Evaluation was done on completion and during follow-up using the four-scale von Pannewitz score. RESULTS: On completion of RT, 27 patients were free of pain, 40 were much improved, 31 reported slight improvement, and 19 experienced no change. After a mean follow-up of 20 months, 75 out of 100 patients were free of pain, twelve had marked and three some improvement. Ten patients reported no change of symptoms. Mean duration of pain before RT was 6 months. RT applied < or = 6 months after the onset of clinical symptoms resulted in improvement in 94%. By contrast, an interval of > 6 months until the initiation of RT resulted in only 73% of patients with clinical improvement. CONCLUSION: Low-dose RT reveals a benefit in > 80% of the patients. RT should start during the first 6 months of symptoms. Prospective clinical studies with validated symptom scores should be conducted to assess optimal dose and fractionation scheme of RT.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of the calcaneal spurs radiotherapy]. / Ocena skutecznosci radioterapii bolesnych ostróg kosci pietowych.

The radiotherapy results of 46 calcaneal spurs were analysed. Patients were irradiated using fraction dose of 1.0 Gy, 1.5 Gy or 2.0 Gy up to total dose of 2.0-22.5 Gy. All patients previously had chronic pain in the plantar region influencing possibility of walking and not reacting for conventional treatment. Whole group was periodically controlled after the treatment completion. The mean follow-up period was 12.5 months. The complete pain relief was observed in 9% cases one month after treatment and in 52% during the last control. The lack of analgetic effect was noted only in 3% cases as well one month after the treatment as during the last examination. Performed statistical analysis showed only inverse significant correlation between degree of pain relief six months after the treatment and duration of symptoms. Obtained results allow to form conclusion that radiotherapy of calcaneal spurs is easy, effective and safe way of analgetic treatment giving good results after low fraction and total delivered doses and that its efficacy depends on symptoms duration what is correlated to disease stage.