Treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis with Botulinum toxin A: preliminary clinical results.

Based on recent results in chronic lateral epicondylitis we decided to investigate the efficacy of Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) for treatment of chronic therapy resistant plantar fasciitis. Nine patients with an average duration of symptoms of 14 months and at least two prior conservative treatments received a one injection of 200 units of BTX-A (Dysport) subfascially into the painful area. The patients documented pain at rest and during weight-bearing after 2, 6, 10 and 14 weeks by a visual analogue scale. A significant reduction of pain during weight-bearing to about 50% was seen 6 weeks after injection. The effect was still present at the latest follow-up of 14 weeks. Similarly, the pain at rest was reduced to less than half of the initial value at any follow-up. All patients were satisfied and did not require further treatment.