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Skeletal Radiology
Published in: Skeletal Radiology 11/2015

01-11-2015 | Scientific Article

Plantar fascia softening in plantar fasciitis with normal B-mode sonography

Authors: Chueh-Hung Wu, Wen-Shiang Chen, Tyng-Guey Wang

Published in: Skeletal Radiology | Issue 11/2015

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate plantar fascia elasticity in patients with typical clinical manifestations of plantar fasciitis but normal plantar fascia morphology on B-mode sonography.

Materials and methods

Twenty patients with plantar fasciitis (10 unilateral and 10 bilateral) and 30 healthy volunteers, all with normal plantar fascia morphology on B-mode sonography, were included in the study. Plantar fascia elasticity was evaluated by sonoelastographic examination. All sonoelastograms were quantitatively analyzed, and less red pixel intensity was representative of softer tissue. Pixel intensity was compared among unilateral plantar fasciitis patients, bilateral plantar fasciitis patients, and healthy volunteers by one-way ANOVA. A post hoc Scheffé’s test was used to identify where the differences occurred.

Results

Compared to healthy participants (red pixel intensity: 146.9 ± 9.1), there was significantly less red pixel intensity in the asymptomatic sides of unilateral plantar fasciitis (140.4 ± 7.3, p = 0.01), symptomatic sides of unilateral plantar fasciitis (127.1 ± 7.4, p < 0.001), and both sides of bilateral plantar fasciitis (129.4 ± 7.5, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in plantar fascia thickness or green or blue pixel intensity among these groups.

Conclusion

Sonoelastography revealed that the plantar fascia is softer in patients with typical clinical manifestations of plantar fasciitis, even if they exhibit no abnormalities on B-mode sonography.
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Metadata
Title
Plantar fascia softening in plantar fasciitis with normal B-mode sonography
Authors
Chueh-Hung Wu
Wen-Shiang Chen
Tyng-Guey Wang
Publication date
01-11-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Skeletal Radiology / Issue 11/2015
Print ISSN: 0364-2348
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2161
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-015-2215-4

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