Menu
Home
Introduction
Heel Pain Causes
Heel Pain Symptoms
Treatment Options
Prognosis
Other Articles
Why Stretch The Calf?
Diagnosing Heel Pain
Heel Anatomy
Gait Cycle
No Cute Shoes!
Night Splints
Plantar Fasciitis Surgery
ESWT Therapy
Talking to Patients
Examining Patients
Links
Plantar Fasciitis Surgery
Surgery for plantar fasciitis should be the last option as success rates can be as low as 37% and as high as 60%..
Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy
This is a difficult procedure and requires the podiatric surgeon to have a great level of skill. The procedure takes 30 minutes and is performed in day surgery. The patient is given appropriate injections to anaesthetize the foot. The surgeon cuts a portion of the plantar fascia from the heel. Two small incisions are made either side of the heel. A tube is inserted into the fascia and a “endoscopic” camera is used to cut the fascia which relieves the tension of the fascia. New fascia grows in the gap created by the cut, recovery times vary depending on the age, weight and occupation of the patient. Recovery periods can vary between 1 to 3 months. Complications include nerve entrapment and severe arch discomfort.
Heel Spur Removal
Removal of the bony growth is not successful in the majority of cases, however some surgeons swear by this procedure. Removal of the the attachment of the plantar fascia causes lowering of the arch. There are also reported cases of patients developing heel fractures post surgery.
Post Operative Complications for all Heel Pain surgery
A nerve may be cut during surgery which can cause a loss of sensation, tingling feeling to the arch and toes. Surgery can also cut a artery or a vein which can cause avascular necrosis which is a temporary or permanent loss of blood to the bones which can cause bone tissue to die, this is a rare complication.
Immediately After Surgery
- Apply ice after 2 hours for 2 days
- Reduce activity
- Consider arch supports to help with post operative pain and aid healing
- Vitamin C has been reported to heal scar tissue
- Listen to the doctors instructions
Questions you should ask the Surgeon
- Are there any other options apart from surgery?
- What is the success rate for this procedure?
- What can go wrong?
- How long will I be off work?
- Will I need shoe modifications?
- What kind of post operative pain will I get and for how long?
- What happens if the surgery does not work?