Abstract
Objectives: Plantar fasciitis is a common condition with a small number of people having symptoms that are challenging to treat. This prospective case series pilot study paper reports the patient outcomes following ultrasound-guided autologous blood injections (ABI) for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis symptoms.
Methods and patients: Prospective case-series study of 35 consecutive patients who have undergone ultrasound-guided ABI for recalcitrant plantar fasciitis symptoms in a National Health Service Sports Medicine Clinic in Leicester, UK. Patients treated had suffered with symptoms of plantar fasciitis for an average of more than 4 years pre-ABI. Patients had an average follow-up of 6 months and with a maximum of over 800 days. The outcome measures include visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and 7-part patient satisfaction outcome scale.
Results: There was an average reduction of VAS of more than 85% post-ABI for all enrolled patients, increasing to nearly 90% in patients with at least 2 months follow-up data. At the latest follow-up appointment 53% of all patients were pain-free following the ABI procedure, increasing to 71% of patients with at least 2 months of follow-up data.
Discussion: While causality is not proved in this study design, ultrasound-guided ABI appear to be successful in the treatment of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. Further studies with greater methodological rigour using a control group or alternative interventions should be conducted.
Methods and patients: Prospective case-series study of 35 consecutive patients who have undergone ultrasound-guided ABI for recalcitrant plantar fasciitis symptoms in a National Health Service Sports Medicine Clinic in Leicester, UK. Patients treated had suffered with symptoms of plantar fasciitis for an average of more than 4 years pre-ABI. Patients had an average follow-up of 6 months and with a maximum of over 800 days. The outcome measures include visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and 7-part patient satisfaction outcome scale.
Results: There was an average reduction of VAS of more than 85% post-ABI for all enrolled patients, increasing to nearly 90% in patients with at least 2 months follow-up data. At the latest follow-up appointment 53% of all patients were pain-free following the ABI procedure, increasing to 71% of patients with at least 2 months of follow-up data.
Discussion: While causality is not proved in this study design, ultrasound-guided ABI appear to be successful in the treatment of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. Further studies with greater methodological rigour using a control group or alternative interventions should be conducted.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3-7 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | International Musculoskeletal Medicine |
| Volume | 35 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2013 |