title: Painful prominences of the heel.
abstract: Heel pain is a common malady, with reported prevalence ranging from 4% to 21%. Referral to foot and ankle specialists for heel pain is also common, but patient awareness of the cause of heel pain may be limited. Many misconceptions about how heel exostoses relate to heel pain exist in the medical community and the general patient population, with many patients referred for or presenting with the simple complaint ''I have a heel spur.'' This article reviews the common exostoses of the heel, including plantar, lateral, and posterior spurs, with specific attention to the cause and treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. Steven.Vyce@Yale.edu
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Vyce
authors.forename: Eliza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Addis-Thomas
authors.forename: Erin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: Sonya L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Perez
mesh_terms: D002111:Calcaneus; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005096:Exostoses / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006365:Heel / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D059408:Pain Management