title: Surgery for Patients With Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis: Good Results at Short-, Medium-, and Long-term Follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of foot pain, and although many episodes are self-limiting with short duration, 10% leave chronic symptoms. Recalcitrant cases can be managed surgically, with studies demonstrating good results in the short term but uncertainties over longer term outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the outcome following surgical intervention for patients with plantar fasciitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-nine patients were identified from operative diaries undergoing plantar fasciotomy surgery between 1993 and 2009. They were contacted to investigate long-term results using self-reported outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight responses were received (86% response rate), with an average of 7 years (range, 1-15 years) of follow-up. Patients reported an average reduction in pain by visual analog scale of 79%, and 84% of patients were happy with the surgical results. Greater success was achieved in patients with shorter duration of symptoms preoperatively. No deterioration in success was seen over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plantar fasciotomy surgery for plantar fasciitis remains controversial, with biomechanical arguments against surgery; however, this article reports good success following surgery over a long follow-up period. The results of current operative techniques need to be fully investigated for longer term success, as do the outcomes of newer nonoperative management strategies.
authors.affiliation: Sport & Exercise Medicine Department, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK. ; School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK. ; Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.affiliation: Sport & Exercise Medicine Department, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.affiliation: Sport & Exercise Medicine Department, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shipton
keywords: ankle; foot; plantar fasciitis; surgery; tendinosis