A prospective study of Plantar fasciitis in Harare.

OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the sex distribution of Plantar fasciitis in Harare. 2. To determine the presence or absence of a calcaneal spur and its role in causation and hence treatment. 3. To determine unilateral or bilateral involvement. 4. To determine the response to steroidal injection. 5. To determine the role of occupation and/or activities if any.

DESIGN

Patients presenting with heel pad pain were carefully examined, the age, sex and occupation recorded. They were followed up at two weekly intervals following treatment.

SETTING

This prospective study was carried out at a private surgery in a low density suburb. Most patients were referred by their general practitioners and some by patients who had been treated successfully. A few were referred from towns in and around Mashonaland Central Province.

SUBJECTS: All patients had to satisfy the diagnosis of Plantar fasciitis. Those presenting with well known causes of pain in and around the heel were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS: All patients had radiographs of both heels requested. The painful heels were injected in the office with 80 mg of depo-medrol plus three to four mls of plain lignocaine using the lateral approach.

RESULTS

The majority of patients (90%) were female, the mean age 48.5 years. Most patients (60%) had no calcaneal spur, 64% had unilateral disease and this was predominantly left-sided. 94% had relief of their symptoms following a single injection.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study there were more females treated for Plantar fasciitis, the majority responded to a single injection. The role of occupation and/or activities require further study.