Ultrasound-guided versus palpation-guided local corticosteroid injection therapy for treatment of plantar fasciitis

Aim of the workThis study aimed to assess the efficacy of ultrasound-guided versus palpation-guided local corticosteroid injection therapy for the treatment of plantar fasciitis (PF).Patients and methodsThe present study included 21 female patients with unilateral chronic idiopathic PF. The study included 10 female healthy volunteers (20 feet) as a control group. The participants were randomly assigned to receive ultrasound-guided (10 patients) or palpation-guided (11 patients) local corticosteroid injection once. The corticosteroid drug was 0.5 ml of triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/ml). Patients were evaluated before injection and 2 weeks and 4 weeks following injection. Clinical evaluation was done by using the visual analog scale (VAS) for heel pain assessment and Plantar Fasciitis Pain/Disability Scale. Ultrasonographic evaluation was done by assessing plantar fascia thickness and echogenicity.ResultsThere was a statistically significant reduction in VAS, Plantar Fasciitis Pain/Disability Scale, plantar fascia thickness and improvement in plantar fascia echogenicity after treatment in both patient groups; however, there were no statistically significant differences between both groups. The plantar fascia thickness was statistically significantly thicker in both groups in relation to control group before injection and after it by 2 weeks and 4 weeks. The plantar fascia hypoechogenicity was found exclusively among patients groups before injection. At 4 weeks after injection, the hypoechogenicity disappeared in all patients of both groups.ConclusionsUltrasound-guided and palpation-guided local corticosteroid injections were effective and successful in treatment of PF. Both techniques improved PF clinically and ultrasonographically without statistically significant superior results for the ultrasound-guided injection.