Ultrasound guided injection of platelet rich plasma in cases of chronic plantar fasciitis

Abstract

Chronic plantar fasciitis (PF) is, by far, considered one of the commonest causes of foot complaints; constituting up to 15% of the foot symptoms that needs medical care in adult and active subjects. Purpose: Is to confirm the clinical diagnosis of plantar fasciitis by ultrasound and to depict the effect of ultrasound guided injection of PRP in such cases. Methods: The study was conducted on 44 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis not responding to conservative treatment, they were diagnosed and were treated by ultrasound guided PRP injection then followed-up after 4 months by both clinical and ultrasound examinations. Results: By ultrasound mild improvement in plantar fascia thickness from 6.04 mm (mean of pre injection) to 4.93 mm (mean of 4 months post last injection). By VAS, significant improvement from 8.14 (mean of pre injection) to 2.59 (mean of 4 months post injection). By Roles and Maudsley score, significant improvement from 81.8% of patients who were acceptable and 18.2% were poor (pre injection) to 59.1% became excellent, 31.8% good, 4.5% acceptable and 4.5%poor (4 months post injection). Conclusion: Ultrasound is a confirmatory diagnostic tool of PF and PRP ultrasound guided injection is recommended after failure of conservative treatment.

Keywords

• Platelet rich plasma PRP
• Plantar fasciitis
• Ultrasound guided injection