Plantar fascia thickness and fat-pad measurement at target points: A cost-beneficial and fast method in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis.

IF 1.9 3区医学 Q2 ORTHOPEDICS

Foot and Ankle Surgery Pub Date : 2025-06-14 DOI:10.1016/j.fas.2025.06.001

Tevfik Çatal, İbrahim Esad Sapmaz, Mustafa Görkem Kaya, Alkan Bayrak, Murat Tıngır, Cemal Kural, Altuğ Duramaz

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic importance of ultrasonic imaging by assessing the thickness of the plantar fascia (F) and fat pad (FP) at different locations in the plantar region for the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis. Furthermore, the study sought to determine the correlation between angular measurements derived from direct radiography and measurements obtained via ultrasound imaging.

Methods: The study measured the intermetatarsal angle(IMA), 1st metatarsophalangeal angle(MTPA), 1st interphalangeal angle(IPA), and medial longitudinal arch angle(MLAA) in weight-bearing foot radiographs of 94 patients (23 males and 71 females) with unilateral plantar fasciitis. The control group comprised asymptomatic feet from the same individuals. Fat pad and plantar fascia thicknesses were assessed with ultrasonic imaging(USG) at three different points. A proportion was established between fascia(F) and fat pad(FP) thicknesses. The study examined the correlations between USG and direct radiography measurements, both within and between groups.

Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the study group and the control group in various measurements. These include IMA measurements, plantar fascia thickness, and F/FP ratio measured at the calcaneal tubercle, as well as fascia thickness, fat pad thickness, and F/FP ratio measured in the midpoint of the medial arch (p = 0.024; p = 0.001; p = 0.001; p = 0.001; p = 0.008; p = 0.001 p<0.05 respectively). A significant correlation was discovered in the study group between F/FP measures in the calcaneal tubercle and MLAA.

Conclusion: Our study revealed a noteworthy correlation between plantar fasciitis and an increase in plantar fascia thickness, an increase in the plantar fascia/fat pad ratio, and a decrease in the fat pad thickness measured at three distinct points. In our study, it was seen that the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis can be made with USG alone, which is a fast, cost-effective and easy-to-apply method by evaluating the thickening of the plantar fascia, the reduction in fat pad thickness, and their relative proportions.

Level of evidence: Level III, Cross-Sectional Prospective Observational Study.

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足底筋膜厚度和靶点脂肪垫测量：诊断足底筋膜炎的一种成本效益高且快速的方法。

目的：本研究旨在通过评估足底不同部位的足底筋膜厚度(F)和脂肪垫厚度（FP），评价超声成像对足底筋膜炎诊断的重要性。此外，该研究试图确定从直接放射照相和通过超声成像获得的测量之间的相关性。方法：对94例单侧足底筋膜炎患者（男23例，女71例）负重足部x线片测量跖间角（IMA）、第一跖趾角（MTPA）、第一指间角（IPA）、内侧纵弓角（MLAA）。对照组由来自同一个人的无症状足组成。超声成像（USG）在三个不同的点评估脂肪垫和足底筋膜厚度。建立筋膜(F)和脂肪垫（FP）厚度的比例。该研究检查了组内和组间USG和直接射线照相测量之间的相关性。结果：研究组与对照组各项指标差异有统计学意义。这些包括IMA测量、足底筋膜厚度和跟骨结节处测量的F/FP比，以及内侧弓中点测量的筋膜厚度、脂肪垫厚度和F/FP比(p = 0.024；p = 0.001;p = 0.001;p = 0.001;p = 0.008;结论：我们的研究揭示了足底筋膜炎与足底筋膜厚度增加、足底筋膜/脂肪垫比例增加以及三个不同点测量的脂肪垫厚度减少之间的显著相关性。在我们的研究中，通过评估足底筋膜增厚、脂肪垫厚度减少及其相对比例，发现单独使用USG可以诊断足底筋膜炎，这是一种快速、经济、易于应用的方法。证据等级：III级，横断面前瞻性观察性研究。

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来源期刊

Foot and Ankle Surgery ORTHOPEDICS-

CiteScore

4.60

自引率

16.00%

发文量

202

期刊介绍： Foot and Ankle Surgery is essential reading for everyone interested in the foot and ankle and its disorders. The approach is broad and includes all aspects of the subject from basic science to clinical management. Problems of both children and adults are included, as is trauma and chronic disease. Foot and Ankle Surgery is the official journal of European Foot and Ankle Society. The aims of this journal are to promote the art and science of ankle and foot surgery, to publish peer-reviewed research articles, to provide regular reviews by acknowledged experts on common problems, and to provide a forum for discussion with letters to the Editors. Reviews of books are also published. Papers are invited for possible publication in Foot and Ankle Surgery on the understanding that the material has not been published elsewhere or accepted for publication in another journal and does not infringe prior copyright.