title: Endoscopic approach for plantar fasciopathy: a long-term retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to report the long term effectiveness of endoscopic plantar fascia release for recalcitrant plantar fasciopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three consecutive patients underwent endoscopically-assisted plantar fascia release for symptomatic plantar fasciopathy unresponsive to nonoperative measures. The clinical diagnosis was supported by imaging (plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score was administered to all patients. All patients underwent endoscopic plantar fascia release. Postoperatively, patients were assessed at clinical examination and the AOFAS score was administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two (26 feet) of the 23 patients included in our original cohort returned to our clinic at an average final follow-up of 9.6 years. The mean preoperative AOFAS score of 51 (range, 41-63) improved to 89 (range, 41-97) at the last follow-up, with no statistically significant difference between patients with or without calcaneal bone spur (p = 0.43). At the last appointment, physically active patients reported significantly higher AOFAS scores than sedentary patients (p = .008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This endoscopic plantar approach could be a viable alternative to more invasive procedures for management of recalcitrant plantar fasciopathy. Future randomised controlled trials are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Caionery@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Caio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nery
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raduan
authors.forename: Nacime
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mansur
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baunfeld
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Del Buono
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maffulli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome