A Prospective Study Comparing Steroid Injection and Needle Fenestration for the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

Abstract

for all patients before treatment and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month following treatment. Results: The corticosteroid injection group had a before-treatment average AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot score of 56.4, which increased to 87.3 at 3 months and 78.2 at 6 months after treatment but decreased to 62.4 at 12 months. The needle fenestration group had a before treatment average AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score of 49.5, which increased to 77.8 at 3 months and 92.1 at 6 months after treatment and remained at a high score of 89.4 at 12 months. There were no complications in either group. Conclusion: In the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis, needle fenestration is as effective at 3- and 6-month post-treatment as a corticosteroid injection. Also, unlike a corticosteroid, its effect remains until 12 months post-treatment.