• Carlo Gamba, Aleix Sala-Pujals, Daniel Perez-Prieto, Jesus Ares-Vidal, Alberto Solano-Lopez, Gemma Gonzalez-Lucena, and Alberto Ginés-Cespedosa.
• 1 Orthopaedic Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
• Foot Ankle Int. 2018 Aug 1; 39 (8): 930-934.

BackgroundThe measurement of plantar fascia thickness has been advocated as a diagnostic and prognostic instrument in patients with plantar fasciitis, but there are no data relative to it in recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. The aim of the study is to evaluate the correlation between plantar fascia thickness and pain, functional score, and health perception in patients with this condition.MethodsThirty-eight feet were studied with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging to measure plantar fascia thickness. The visual analogue scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society Hindfoot Score (AOFAS), and SF-36 were then recorded for each patient. The relationship between the fascia and these scores was analyzed to evaluate the correlation of thickness with pain, functional level, and health perception of patients.ResultsIn patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis, plantar fascia thickness did not correlate with pain (VAS), AOFAS, or any item of the SF-36.ConclusionThe thickness of the plantar fascia in patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis did not correlate with its clinical impact, and thus, we believe it should not be used in treatment planning.Level Of EvidenceLevel IV, case series.

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