Endoscopic approach for plantar fasciopathy: a long-term retrospective study

The purpose of this study was to report the long term effectiveness of endoscopic plantar fascia release for recalcitrant plantar fasciopathy.Twenty-three consecutive patients underwent endoscopically-assisted plantar fascia release for symptomatic plantar fasciopathy unresponsive to nonoperative measures. the clinical diagnosis was supported by imaging (plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was administered to all patients. All patients underwent endoscopic plantar fascia release. Postoperatively, patients were assessed at clinical examination and the AOFAS score was administered.Twenty-two (26 feet) of the 23 patients included in our original cohort returned to our clinic at an average final follow-up of 9.6 years. the mean preoperative AOFAS score of 51 (range, 41-63) improved to 89 (range, 41-97) at the last follow-up, with no statistically significant difference between patients with or without calcaneal bone spur (p = 0.43). At the last appointment, physically active patients reported significantly higher AOFAS scores than sedentary patients (p = .008).This endoscopic plantar approach could be a viable alternative to more invasive procedures for management of recalcitrant plantar fasciopathy. Future randomised controlled trials are needed.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Orthopaed Surg, São Paulo, BrazilCampus Biomed Univ Rome, Dept Orthopaed & Trauma Surg, Rome, ItalyMile End Hosp, Barts & London Sch Med & Dent, Ctr Sports & Exercise Med, London E1 4DG, EnglandUniv Salerno, Dept Musculoskeletal Disorders, I-84100 Salerno, ItalyUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Orthopaed Surg, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc