Abstract
Abstract: Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain for which medical care is sought. It is associated with significant morbidity placing activity limitations on the patients. The response of plantar fasciitis to any treatment is unpredictable. Many different modalities of treatment are used in its management. Injection of plantar fascia with local anaesthetic and steroids under general anaesthesia was carried out in 50 patients who had a clinical diagnosis of plantar fasciitis of greater than 3 month duration. Following induction of general anesthesia, a 20-gauge needle was guided toward and into the plantar fascia. 5mls of local anaesthetic and steroid was injected into the proximal plantar fascia. The patients were followed up over a mean of 6 months. Pain intensity was graded on an 11-point visual analog scale (VAS). Questionnaires with the VAS were filled out after treatment to determine the effectiveness of the procedure. The mean pain score decreased by 5.4 points. There were no complications during or after the procedure. Patients were questioned in relation to their occupational, athletic and recreational activities pre and post the injection.
Injection of the plantar fascia under general anaesthesia is a safe and effective method for the relief of conservatively unmanageable heel pain due to plantar fasciitis. A larger patient population and a greater than 1 year follow up would be helpful to determine the long term benefits & outcomes of this treatment.
Correspondence should be addressed to Mr Richard Wallace at Musgrave Park Hospital, 20 Stockman’s Lane, Belfast BT9 7JB, Northern Ireland.
