Endoscopic Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis with Plantar Heel Spur Pain: A Combined Suprafascial and Infrafascial Approach

Background: To determine whether a combined endoscopic suprafascial and infrafascial approach with medial and lateral portals is a safe and effective technique for the endoscopic treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis with plantar heel spur pain. Methods: An interventional, prospective study was conducted. A total of 61 patients with plantar fasciitis with plantar heel spur pain underwent an endoscopic plantar fasciotomy with plantar heel spur resection, using a combined suprafascial and infrafascial approach between January 2018 and August 2022. Preoperative Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and visual analog scale (VAS) scores were measured. The measurements were repeated at 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow up. Preoperative and 1-year postoperative film parameters (Meary angle, calcaneal pitch angle, medial cuneiform–fifth metatarsal height) were compared. Complications were recorded at each encounter. Results: The mean follow up time was 2.6 ± 1.1 years. At the 6-week postoperative visit, the mean change in FAAM-ADL, FAAM-Sport, SF-36 physical component summary, SF-36 mental component summary, and VAS were 26.0,19.0, 44.8, 61.2, and −5.8, respectively. These changes were statistically significant ( P < .001). These findings were sustained and generally improved at all other follow-up points: 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and final follow-up. The average period until the recovery of activities of daily living and sport activities were 2.6 and 8.6 weeks, respectively. There were no significant differences between the pre- and 1-year postoperative radiographic values ( P > .05). No cases resulted in medial arch collapse. Five cases (8%) had an injury to the first branch of lateral plantar nerve. Conclusion: Endoscopic plantar fascia release and plantar heel spur resection using a combined suprafascial and infrafascial approach resulted in the improvement of postoperative FAAM, SF-36, and VAS scores and involved a low incidence of postoperative complications.