Long Term Results of Percutaneous Radiofrequency Nerve Ablation for Chronic Plantar Heel Pain Associated with Plantar Fasciitis

Introduction: Chronic plantar heel pain is one of the most painful foot conditions and is generally associated with plantar fasciitis.

Objectives: This study reports five year followup results of radiofrequency radiofrequency nerve ablation (RFNA) of the calcaneal branches of the inferior calcaneal nerve in patients who did not respond to conservative treatments.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the results of the RFNA of the calcaneal branches of the inferior calcaneal nerve on 68 feet in 58 patients with plantar heel pain between 2008 and 2013. All of the patients who were treated had been complaining of heel pain for over six months and had been resistant to conservative treatments. Patients included in the study were evaluated (quantitatively) using the average 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before the treatment, as well as at their one month followup, one year followup, two years followup, and last followup after the procedure, respectively.

Results and Discussion: The mean last followup was 62 months (range, 47-110 months). The average VAS score of the feet was 9.54 + 1.66 before treatment, 0.75 +1.24 one month after the procedure, and 1.59+ 2.23 at one year followup, 1.72 + 1.88 at two years followup, and 2.34+ 0.92 at last followup(p<0.001). In the evaluation of the patients’ feet, 81 % of the patients rated their treatment as very successful or successful at the last followup.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that Radiofrequency nerve ablation (RFNA) of the calcaneal branches of the inferior calcaneal nerve provide a long term effective treatment for chronic heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis.