title: Efficacy of first-time steroid injection for painful heel syndrome.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of a single injection of corticosteroids in patients with painful heel syndrome. Twenty-seven heels in 24 patients were injected with a combination of 1 ml of lidocaine and 1 ml of betamethasone (6 mg). These patients had never previously received an injection to their heels and had continued symptoms of pain after a trial of other nonoperative treatment modalities. After the injection, patients were seen and surveyed periodically for a period of 5 months to 8 months. The amount of pain relief that they obtained, the length of time this lasted, and the amount of heel pain present at the final follow-up were recorded. Based on the results of our study, we believe that a steroid injection is a reasonable adjunct in the treatment of painful heel syndrome, but that it is unlikely to provide permanent pain relief.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of New Mexico Hospital, Albuquerque 87106, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGuire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006365:Heel; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001623:Betamethasone