Plantar fasciitis and the calcaneal spur: Fact or fiction?

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Plantar fasciitis is a common diagnosis in patients presenting with heel pain. The presence of co-existing calcaneal spurs has often been reported but confusion exists as to whether it is a casual or significant association.

METHODS:

The lateral heel radiographs of nineteen patients with a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis and nineteen comparison subjects with a lateral ankle ligament sprain matched for age and sex, were reviewed independently by two observers. Objective measurements of calcaneal spur length and a subjective grading of spur size were recorded.

RESULTS:

There was a significantly higher prevalence of calcaneal spurs in the cases than the comparison group (89% versus 32%; McNemar chi-square=9.09, df=2, p=0.00257). There was good inter- and intra-observer agreement.

CONCLUSION:

The current study has demonstrated a significant association between plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur formation. Further research is warranted to assess whether the association is causal.

• Authors: K S Johal, S A Milner
• Journal: Foot and ankle surgery : official journal of the European Society of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (Foot Ankle Surg) Vol. 18 Issue 1 Pg. 39-41 (Mar 2012) ISSN: 1460-9584 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 22326003 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 European Foot and Ankle Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Fasciitis, Plantar (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology, etiology)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Heel Spur (complications, diagnostic imaging, epidemiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain (diagnosis, etiology)
• Prevalence
• ROC Curve
• Radiography
• Retrospective Studies
• United Kingdom (epidemiology)