Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39689135›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2024

Therapeutic efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin A injection in plantar fasciitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Qian Li, Jing Zhang, Jie Sun, Chengfei Gao, Jing Zhao

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Non-Biologic Injections in Sports Medicine.Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine · 2026
    Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Qian LiDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China.
Jing ZhangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China.
Jie SunDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China.
Chengfei GaoDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
Jing ZhaoDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, China.ORCID 0009-0005-2126-7614

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin A (BTA) injections for treatment of plantar fasciitis (PF).

methodsThis review adhered to the PRISMA guidelines, conducting a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for eligible studies from their inception to December 30 2023. The inclusion criteria were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BTA injections with control interventions in terms of pain reduction, functional improvement, or the occurrence of adverse events in treating patients with PF were extracted for meta-analysis. Relevant data were extracted using an electronic spreadsheet and analyzed with Stata 16.0 software. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool.

resultsA total of 655 studies were retrieved and subsequently screened. Seven RCTs, comprising 305 participants, met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that BTA injections led to significant pain reduction only at 1-month posttreatment (SMD = -1.72, 95% CI [-3.10, -0.34], p = 0.01]) and sustained functional improvement over twelve months (SMD = 25.10, 95% CI [9.67, 40.53], p = 0.001) compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of adverse events between the BTA and control interventions (OR = 0.16, 95% CI [-1.00, 1.32], p = 0.79).

conclusionThis meta-analysis suggested that BTA injection could be an effective and safe therapeutic strategy for plantar fasciitis. However, further larger-scale, rigorously designed RCTs are needed to validate these findings and determine the optimal injection dosage and site for BTA in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Indexed as

Botulinum Toxins, Type AFasciitis, PlantarHumansNeuromuscular AgentsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeBotulinum Toxins, Type ANeuromuscular Agents

Identifiers

PMID39689135
PMCPMC11651609

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.