title: Effectiveness of device-assisted ultrasound-guided steroid injection for treating plantar fasciitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of device-assisted ultrasound-guided steroid injection for treating plantar fasciitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An ultrasound-guided injection device designed with space for securing a transducer and syringe was used to guide steroid injection. Patients with unilateral plantar fasciitis were enrolled and randomly divided into device-assisted ultrasound-guided and palpation-guided groups. Pain intensity was measured using a visual analog scale and tenderness threshold. Ultrasound and pain intensity evaluations were performed before injection and at 3 wks and at 3 mos postinjection. Betamethasone (7 mg) and 1% lidocaine (0.5 ml) were injected into the inflamed plantar fascia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three patients who received either device-assisted ultrasound-guided or palpation-guided injection had significantly lower visual analog scale scores (P < 0.001) and higher tenderness threshold (P < 0.01) postinjection. However, the device-assisted group had higher tenderness threshold (9.02 ± 1.38 vs. 7.18 ± 2.11 kg/cm; P = 0.007), lower visual analog scale score (1.88 ± 2.13 vs. 3.63 ± 2.60; P = 0.046), and lower hypoechogenicity incidence in the plantar fascia (3/16 vs. 9/16; P = 0.033) than the palpation-guided group did at 3 mos postinjection. The heel pad was significantly thin (P = 0.004) in the palpation-guided group postinjection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Device-assisted ultrasound-guided injection for treating plantar fasciitis results in better therapeutic outcomes than palpation-guided injection does.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jenq-Shyong
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Chung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Hung-Chih
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Kai-Hua
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chu-Hsu
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010173:Palpation / Q000379:methods; D056888:Patient Positioning; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013256:Steroids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids