Ultrasound-guided endoscopy for recalcitrant plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spurs: A safety-oriented surgical adjunct to minimize complications.

Jinxi An, Wei Zhu, Fangjing Chen, Ziheng Bu, Peng Wu

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Article in International orthopaedics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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Jinxi An *Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China, shanghai, China.

Wei Zhu *Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China, shanghai, China.

Fangjing Chen *Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China, shanghai, China.

Ziheng BuDepartment of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China, shanghai, China.

Peng WuDepartment of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200072, China, shanghai, China. wupeng03010814@163.com.

Funding

Jiangxi Province Natural Science Foundation General Project 20252BAC240483Program for Research-oriented Physician of Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital 2023YJXYSA004Shanghai Hospital Development Center Foundation SHDC22024242Shanghai Science and Technology Commission Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan Domestic Science and Technology Cooperation Project 24010701900

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo investigate whether ultrasound-guided preoperative portal localization in a modified double-medial-portal endoscopic technique reduces postoperative complications while maintaining comparable clinical outcomes in patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis.

methodsA retrospective study was performed on 62 patients suffering from stubborn plantar fasciitis with a calcaneal spur from January 2023 to August 2024. 32 patients had a traditional endoscopic partial release of the plantar fascia, whereas 30 patients underwent a modified release guided by ultrasound. Two medial portals were used by both the traditional and altered groups. Every patient was monitored for a minimum of 12 months. The clinical results for both groups were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, the medial longitudinal arch angle (MLAA), and the Arch Index (AI).

resultsBoth groups showed significant improvements in VAS and AOFAS scores at one, six and 12 months postoperatively. No significant between-group differences were observed in pain relief, functional recovery, or foot structural parameters at any follow-up time point. The ultrasound-guided group demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of postoperative complications. Patient-reported satisfaction appeared to be higher in the ultrasound-guided group.

conclusionUltrasound-guided modified double-medial-portal endoscopic surgery provides comparable clinical outcomes with fewer postoperative complications, suggesting a safety advantage rather than superior efficacy in recalcitrant plantar fasciitis.

Indexed as

EndoscopyFasciitis, PlantarHeel SpurPostoperative ComplicationsUltrasonography, InterventionalAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementPatient SatisfactionRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeCalcaneal spurEndoscopic plantar fasciotomyInterventionalPlantar fasciitisUltrasonography

Identifiers

PMID41673124

DOI10.1007/s00264-026-06746-x

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