title: Endoscopic plantar fascia release.
abstract: An anatomic exploration showed that reliable landmarks could allow a safe division of the plantar fascia. The reference line was the posterior border of the medial malleolus, 1 cm from the plantar skin. A clinical study on 53 patients (65 feet) showed that, at follow-up of over 2 years, the procedure effectively relieved heel pain in 89% of patients, morning stiffness in 92%, and allowed 71% to return to unrestricted sports activity. There were 2 complications with lateral heel pain. Patients must be properly selected, and must have had the full range of conservative treatment. Symptoms should have been intractable for approximately 1 year. In this group, good results can be expected with minimum short-term morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Hospital, and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ogilvie-Harris
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lobo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005205:Fascia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D005208:Fasciitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006365:Heel / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome