title: Prospective study of percutaneous radiofrequency nerve ablation for chronic plantar fasciitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic plantar heel pain is one of the most painful foot conditions and is generally associated with plantar fasciitis. This study reports 2-year follow-up results of radiofrequency nerve ablation (RFNA) of the calcaneal branches of the inferior calcaneal nerve in patients with chronic heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  After receiving approval from the institutional review board, we prospectively evaluated the results of the RFNA of the calcaneal branches of the inferior calcaneal nerve on 35 feet in 29 patients with plantar heel pain between 2008 and 2011. All of the patients who were treated had been complaining of heel pain for more than 6 months and had failed conservative treatment. All of the patients were evaluated (quantitatively) using the average 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before treatment, as well as at their 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up after the procedure. We also evaluated 26 feet in 20 patients with American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scale (AOFAS) scores before the treatment, as well as at their 1-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-up after the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average VAS score of the feet was 9.2 ± 1.9 before treatment, 0.5 ± 1.3 at 1 month after the procedure, 1.5 ± 2.1 at 1-year follow-up, and 1.3 ± 1.8 at 2-year follow-up (P < .001). The average AOFAS scores of the patients were 66.9 ± 8.1 (range, 44-80) before treatment, 95.2 ± 6.1 (range, 77-100) at 1 month after the procedure, 93 ± 7.5 (range, 71-100) at the 1-year follow-up, and 93.3 ± 7.9 (range, 69-100) at the 2-year follow-up. At the 1- and 2-year follow-up, 85.7% of the patients rated their treatment as very successful or successful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that RFNA of the calcaneal branches of the inferior calcaneal nerve was an effective pain treatment option for chronic heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis that did not respond to other conservative treatment options.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, retrospective case series.
authors.affiliation: Anadolu Medical Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: H Yener
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Erken
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayanoglu
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akmaz
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Erler
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiral
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006365:Heel / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: heel pain; nerve ablation; plantar fasciitis; radiofrequency