Comparison of endoscopic plantar fasciotomy and endoscopic partial fascia detachment in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis: a retrospective 1-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND

Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common disease that causes pain and dysfunction in the heel. Non-surgical treatments of PF can handle most cases, but recurring pain remains a challenge.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study evaluated the clinical outcomes of endoscopic plantar fasciotomy and endoscopic partial plantar fascia detachment in patients with PF.

STUDY

DESIGN

A single-center retrospective comparative study was conducted on 33 patients with refractory PF between January 2021 and June 2023.

METHODS

There were 14 patients in the endoscopic plantar fasciotomy group and 19 patients in the endoscopic partial plantar fascia detachment group. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire. All patients were evaluated postoperatively and at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS

The two groups showed no differences in age, disease duration, osteophyte, body mass index, and operation time. All patients achieved satisfactory postoperative scores on VAS, AOFAS, and SF-36. Postoperative comparisons between the plantar fasciotomy group and the partial plantar fascia detachment group revealed VAS scores of 4.76 ± 1.49 vs. 2.97 ± 1.30 [mean difference: -1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): (-6.01, 2.41), P = 0.3911]; AOFAS scores of 84.74 ± 1.19 vs. 81.71 ± 1.21 [mean difference: -3.02, 95% CI: (-7.17, 1.12), P = 0.0471]; and SF-36 scores of 527.4 ± 10.46 vs. 515.6 ± 11.71 [mean difference: -11.73, 95% CI: (-55.66, 32.20), P = 0.0491], respectively. Patients in the endoscopic plantar fasciotomy group had better SF-36 and AOFAS scores at 3 and 6 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Both treatments demonstrated satisfactory clinical outcomes after surgery. However, patients in the endoscopic plantar fasciotomy group achieved earlier recovery and better functional improvement compared with patients in the endoscopic partial plantar fascia detachment group.