title: Changes in prevalence of calcaneal spurs in men & women: a random population from a trauma clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study reports the changing prevalence of ankle (Achilles and plantar) spurs with age, in order to comment on their significance to rheumatologists.
  
  
  METHODS
  1080 lateral ankle radiographs from each of 9 (50 men and 50 women) age cohorts from 2 to 96 years old of patients attending a trauma clinic were examined and spurs classified as small or large.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of both Achilles and plantar spurs in relation to the age categories and sex was variable. Overall, there was 38% of the population who had a spur (Achilles or plantar) and only third (11%) with spurs at both sites (Achilles and plantar). Large spurs were more prevalent in older individuals (40 to 79 years). There were no large plantar spurs in individuals <40 years of age and only 2% for the Achilles. The prevalence of spurs (Achilles and plantar) was significantly higher for woman than men in individuals <50 years of age. There was a notable moderate positive correlation (r = 0.71) between both plantar and Achilles spurs for women <30 years of age but no correlation for men (r = -0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plantar and Achilles spurs are highly prevalent in older people and the radiographic appearance of spurs differs between men and women. In individuals < 50 years of age, spur (Achilles and plantar) formation is more common in women than in men. Additionally, there was a notable moderate positive correlation between Achilles and plantar spurs for women <30 years of age.
authors.affiliation: EA4708 Orleans University, IPROS, CHRO, 1, rue Porte-Madeleine, BP 2439, Orleans cedex 1 45032, France. hechmi.toumi@univ-orleans.fr.
authors.forename: Hechmi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Toumi
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazor
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coursier
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jennane
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lespessailles
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D036982:Heel Spur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult