title: Ultrasound-Guided Pulsed Radiofrequency Stimulation of Posterior Tibial Nerve: A Potential Novel Intervention for Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis.
abstract: To evaluate the therapeutic benefit of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation at the posterior tibial nerve (PTN) in patients with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis (PF).
  
  
  
  A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial (12-wk follow-up).
  
  
  
  Outpatient local medical center settings.
  
  
  
  Patients (N=36) with recalcitrant PF underwent randomization, and all were included in the final data analysis.
  
  
  
  Patients in the PRF group were treated with 1 dose of ultrasound-guided PRF stimulation at the PTN, and those in the control group received 1 dose of 2% lidocaine, 0.5mL, injected at the PTN under ultrasound guidance.
  
  
  
  The visual analog scale (first-step and overall pain), American Orthopedic Foot-Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale, and ultrasonographic thickness of the plantar fascia were evaluated at 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment.
  
  
  
  Thirty-six patients (20 feet per group) completed the study. The PRF group had a significantly larger improvement in first-step pain, overall pain, and AOFAS score (all P<.001), as well as plantar fascia thickness (P<.05), compared with those of the control group at all observed time points.
  
  
  
  This study shows that ultrasound-guided PRF stimulation at the PTN is effective for treating recalcitrant PF. This simple, reproducible method could be a novel strategy for managing recalcitrant PF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; Integrated Pain Management Center, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yung-Tsan
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chih-Ya
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Integrated Pain Management Center, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; Department of Anesthesiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chun-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China; Integrated Pain Management Center, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tsung-Ying
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Heng-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. Electronic address: clctsgh@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Liang-Cheng
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D061208:Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D013979:Tibial Nerve; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D008012:Lidocaine
keywords: Fasciitis, plantar; Pulsed radiofrequency treatment; Rehabilitation; Tibial nerve