Plantar fasciitis and the calcaneal spur: Fact or fiction?
BACKGROUND
Plantar fasciitis is a common diagnosis in patients presenting with heel pain. The presence of co-existing calcaneal spurs has often been reported but confusion exists as to whether it is a casual or significant association.


METHODS
The lateral heel radiographs of nineteen patients with a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis and nineteen comparison subjects with a lateral ankle ligament sprain matched for age and sex, were reviewed independently by two observers. Objective measurements of calcaneal spur length and a subjective grading of spur size were recorded.


RESULTS
There was a significantly higher prevalence of calcaneal spurs in the cases than the comparison group (89% versus 32%; McNemar chi-square=9.09, df=2, p=0.00257). There was good inter- and intra-observer agreement.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study has demonstrated a significant association between plantar fasciitis and calcaneal spur formation. Further research is warranted to assess whether the association is causal.
University of Nottingham, UK.
K S
KS
Johal
S A
SA
Milner
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D036982:Heel Spur / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012372:ROC Curve; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology