Injection Therapy in the Management of Musculoskeletal Injuries: Foot and Ankle

Despite their widespread and frequent use, there is little guidance of injectable treatments to the ankle and foot. Common pathologies in the foot and ankle that injectable therapy is useful for include: plantar fasciitis, tarsal tunnel syndrome, degenerative joint disease of the ankle, Morton's neuroma, hallux rigidus, and Achilles tendinopathy. While corticosteroid therapy is useful in many of the aforementioned diagnoses, its use should be limited in Achilles tendinopathy. More recently, platelet rich plasma is being investigated as a possible efficacious treatment modality in plantar fasciitis, ankle arthritis, and Achilles tendinopathy. This article serves to summarize the current literature and provide guidance of injectable therapy in common foot and ankle pathologies.