title: Power Doppler findings in plantar fasciitis.
abstract: The study was performed to characterize the power Doppler ultrasonographic (PDU) findings in plantar fasciitis using a 7.5 MHz linear transducer. Both feet of 20 patients who had a clinical and ultrasound (US) diagnosis of unilateral plantar fasciitis were evaluated with PDU. The pain level was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS). A total of 20 healthy volunteers were evaluated as a control group. Moderate or marked hyperemia was found in PDU in the plantar fascia and the surrounding soft tissue along the first cm distally from the insertion in 8 (40%) of the 20 symptomatic heels and in 1 patient (5%) on the asymptomatic side. Moderate or marked hyperemia was associated with a history of less than 6 months and high pain levels. The difference between both groups was significant (p < 0.05). PDU improves the value of US as a noninvasive technique for the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis, providing additional information on local hyperemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany. m-walther.klh@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radke
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirschner
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ettl
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gohlke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005205:Fascia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006365:Heel / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods