METHODS
This study involved 205 patients with a diagnosis of painful PFs, treated during the years 2013 through
2017 at three institutions. Of these, 67 patients received a total dose of 6.0 Gy radiotherapy (RT in
3-weekly fractions of 1 Gy (RT arm); 65 patients received local steroid injection (SI) of 40 mg (1 ml)
of methylprednisolone; and 0.5 ml of 1% lidocaine in the painful heel spur, using palpation (palpation
guided) (PG SI arm) and 73 received extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in five sessions with
weekly intervals (ESWT arm). Patients recorded visual analog scale (VAS) score, a modified Pannewitz
score and a 5-level function score. Patients with available ?12 months of data were included in the present
study.
RESULTS
Follow-up data were available for patients with a median of 15.5 (range, 6.5-37.4) months. There was
a significant improvement in VAS scores and 5-level function scores in the RT arm at 3 and 6 month
period arm (p<0.001). In univariate and multivariate analyses, only treatment scheme was associated
with considerable pain control (p=0.006).
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that all treatment modalities provide significant pain relief in patients with painful
heel spur. This analysis also demonstrates RT is superior choice for chronic PF in cases of failure with
conservative treatments when compared to extracorporeal shock wave therapy and PG SI.
Keywords: Awareness; educational level; electronic survey; knowledge; oral cancer; public health
There are two main approaches to treatment of PF:
Conservative and surgical. In general, treatment plans
initiate with patient-directed methods consisting of
resting, activity modification, ice massage, and management
programs with stretching and strengthening
of the plantar fascia.[
Historically radiotherapy (RT) has been used for the
treatment of a wide range of benign tumors regardless
of limited knowledge about its mechanisms of action in
clinical practice. High dose RT induces production of
pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to an inflammatory
response in the irradiated tissues. Contradictorily,
RT administered at low doses (LD-RT) modulates the
inflammatory response, producing several anti-inflammatory
mechanisms such as impaired leukocyte adhesion,
apoptosis in endothelial cells, and modulation of
E- selectin adhesion on endothelial cells. Recent data
have demonstrated that irradiation acts not through a
single mechanism but through a complex interaction
of different effects.[
ESWT is a noninvasive procedure that is defined as
the application of high density pressure waves to the
body used for the first time to treat urolithiasis in 1970-
1980.[
One method of among PF treatment is local SI, antiinflammatory
medicines commonly used in the treatment
of acute and chronic PF with proven effectiveness.
SI can trigger the process of pain relief through
its strong anti-inflammatory effect.[
Although the listed alternative methods all provide
improvement in terms of pain relief, it is not clear which
one is most effective. While there are several comparisons
of SI and ESWT in the existing literature, there is
no study comparing RT with ESWT. Hence, the aim of
the present study was to retrospectively compare the
therapeutic effects of three different treatment modalities
(PG SI, RT, and ESWT) based on pain reduction.
The trial was submitted to the Research Ethics Committee at the Faculty of Medicine in Karadeniz Technical University where RT data were collected, for approval (2019/110). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Treatment
RT was performed with a linear accelerator producing
6 MV photons, applying lateral parallel opposing areas.
Treatment portals were simulated in a supine position
and included the whole calcaneus, insertion into the
Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia insertion with appropriate
fall off (Fig.
A Swiss Dolor Clast brand device was used to administer treatment for the ESWT with the patients in a prone position, 2000 (11 times per sec) shockwave impulses (20 MHz) at 3 bar air pressure were delivered using a 16-mm head. After determining the regions of heel pain through physical examinations, gel was used between the cap and skin during the applications to ensure conductivity, and the shockwave energy was delivered by single physical therapist. ESWT was carried out in five sessions with weekly intervals. This procedure can cause bruising, swelling, pain, numbness, or tingling.
PG SI treatments were applied by a single orthopedist. Multiple injections were avoided because they can weaken the plantar fascia and possibly cause ruptures. Plantar fascia at the medial tubercle of the tuberosity of the calcaneus, which can be appreciated with deep palpation of the medial and plantar surface of the calcaneus, was determined by palpation. After local disinfection and anesthesia, a 22-gauge 1.5-inch needle was connected to a 3-cm3 syringe filled with 40 mg of methylprednisolone (1 ml) mixed with 0.5 ml of 1% lidocaine.
Patients had follow ups every 6 weeks for the 1st year. Follow-up visits included mailing questionnaires or interviewing the patient by telephone about updated symptoms and physical examination in the clinic. All the follow-up information was incorporated into a standardized database.
Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) score, a modified von Pannewitz score and a 5-level function score. The VAS consists of a straight line with the endpoints defining extreme limits from no pain at all (0) to worst possible pain (10). A modified von Pannewitz pain score has five response categories (where complete response [CR]=pain free, score 1; partial response [PR]=substantial pain improvement, score 2; minor response [MR]=pain improvement, score 3; and no change=pain unchanged, score 4; or progressive disease=increased or worsening pain, score 5). In a 5-level function score, 90-100 points=excellent; 70-89 points=good; 40-69 points=fair, and 0-39 points=poor were determined. All events were evaluated during the 1-year follow-up. Recurrence of symptoms was defined as a painful event requiring second treatment.
Statistical Analysis
Descriptive statistical methods (mean, standard deviation,
and frequency) were used to evaluate the data.
The compatibility of the variables with normal distribution
was examined by visual (histogram and probability
graphs) and analytical methods (Kolmogorov-
Smirnov/Shapiro-Wilk tests). After examining the
distribution of variables, the parametric-interval data
were analyzed using the student-t-test, paired-t-test,
and analysis of variance or variance analysis in recurrent
measurements. Non-parametric-interval data
were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U-test, Wilcoxon
test, Kruskal-Wallis test, or Friedman test. Pairwise comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney
U-test, and the Wilcoxon test and evaluated using
the Bonferroni correction. Statistical analyses were run
using SPSS version 13 software for Windows.
Univariate and multivariate proportional subdistribution hazard models were used to assess factors associated with the requirement for secondary treatment. The variables which were considered important in the previous studies, including age at treatment, sex, body mass index (BMI) (25, 25-29.9, 30-39.9, and 40<), duration of pain (?6 vs. 6<), and treatment scheme (RT, PG-SI, and ESWT), were evaluated. Variables that were significant in the univariate analyses were entered into the multivariate analysis. All P-values resulting from two-sided statistical tests, with values of p<0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Event-free probabilities were estimated and graphically represented as time-to-event curves by means of the Kaplan-Meier method. The Kaplan-Meier method attempts to estimate event-free probabilities and graphically represent time-to-event curves.
The three treatment groups were comparable with
respect to gender, BMI, smoking status, history of
chronic pain, impact of pain suffered on quality of life,
and leisure/sports. However, the mean duration of pretreatment
pain was significantly prolonged for those
who treated with the RT arm compared to the PG SI
and ESWT arms. There was a statistically significant
difference between the treatment groups (p=0.016).
In the subgroup analysis of pain periods, there was a
statistically significant difference (p=0.006) between
RT and PG SI. There was no difference between PG
SI and ESWT (p=0.745) and between RT and ESWT
(p=0.026). Among the performance of simple tests,
the most significant tests were walking and standing
on the heel, were significantly predictive of diagnosis
(p<0.0001) (Table
When the VAS scores before radiation therapy were
evaluated, there was a statistically significant difference
(p=0.004) between the treatment groups. The pretreatment
VAS score was 7.7 in the RT arm, 6.9 in the PG SI
arm, and 7.5 in the ESWT arm, showing a moderately
better pain situation among the patients in the PG SI
arm a slightly worse initial pain situation among the
patients in the RT arm. In the subgroup analysis of VAS
scores, no difference was determined between RT and
ESWT (p=0.347). There was a statistically significant
difference between PG SI and ESWT (p=0.009) and
between PG SI arm and RT arm (p=0.002) (Table
After 3 months, there was a statistically significant
difference (p<0.001) between the treatment groups
when VAS scores were evaluated. The mean VAS score
at time of follow-up after 3 months was 2.5 in the RT
arm, 4.6 in the PG SI arm, and 4.1 in the ESWT arm.
In the subgroup analysis of VAS scores, no difference
was determined between PG SI and ESWT (p=0.273).
There was a statistically significant difference between
RT and ESWT (p<0.001) and between RT and PG SI
(p<0.001). The pain relief results were superior after
RT. A similar result was found when evaluating 5-level
function: The mean score was 80.4 in the RT arm, 60.2
in the PG SI arm, and 65.6 in the ESWT arm (p<0.001).
In terms of all scores after 3 months, there were a significantly
better effects in the RT arm (Table
Comparing the results at the 6 months follow-up
with those after 3 months, we found that patients sustained
results after 6 months remained stable or even
improved. Thus, we can assume that RT provided significant
pain reduction compared with other modalities
during further follow-up after 3 months (Table
Pain control (free of pain, considerable, and some
improvement) was achieved by 80.6% of patients in the
RT arm, 72.3% in the PG SI arm, and 63% in the ESWT
arm. Overall 58 (28.3%) were event (second treatment
requirement) during the follow-up period. Univariate
and multivariate analyses for factors associated with
events are shown in Table
Another prognostic factor for treatment failure was the response after the first treatment. Fifty-eight of 205 (28.3%) patients with no change after completion of the first treatment required a second treatment. The time interval required for the second treatment ranged from 4 months to 14.1 (mean, 9) months after RT, from 3.1 to 13.9 (mean, 7.8) months after ESWT, and from 2.1 to months (mean, 6.4) months after PG SI. The time interval for the second treatment was significantly longer in the RT arm than in the PG SI (p=0.04). There was no statistically significant difference among three arms (p=0.069).
We also reviewed the distribution of side effects stratified by the treatment modalities. In the PG SI arm acute infection was observed at the injection site in one patient. The patient was treated with antibiotic therapy. In the RT arm no acute side effects were detected. In the ESWT arm pain during treatment occurred in ten patients. In two patients in the ESWT arm, reddening of the skin was present. The patient was treated with anti-inflammatory agents.
Approximately 15% of all foot complaints admitted
to health-care professionals can be attributed to PF.[
ESWT has been used in PF for pain relief as an alternative
to surgery that allows fast recovery without the
potential complications of surgery and the necessity for
immobilization. ESWT is used to promote neovascularization
to aid in healing degenerative tissue, reduction
of calcification, and inhibition of pain receptors
found in PF.[
In patients with PF, there was a significant heel
pain reduction 1 month after using the PG SI method.
[
Patients suffering from a wide variety of benign
conditions, including PF, have been successfully treated
with RT, although it is only used for patients for whom
standard treatments are ineffective. In spite of having
been known for good results in heel spurs and other
inflammatory/degenerative joint disorders in the past,
RT has been considered a last resort to treat refractory
cases.[
In a study by Ott et al.[
Several retrospective studies have shown that RT
for painful heel spurs can have a good analgesic effect.
Seegenschmiedt et al.[
Despite perceptions that treating a benign disease
with LD radiation can induce malignancy, no radiation related secondary malignancies were detected during
the nearly 31 years reported follow-up.[
Pain experienced during all treatment modalities
was assessed retrospectively, and hence is a limitation
of this study. This retrospective setting is problematic
because of the risk of bias comparing three different data sets taken from three different centers. A randomized
study would be more informative. One of the
strengths of the present study is the high number of
patients with adequate follow-up (including pain and
daily life status), which made a comparison between
the more abbreviated and more protracted regimens
possible. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge,
this is the first study which compares ESWT with RT
when treating PF.
Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed.
Conflict of Interest: All authors declared no conflict of interest.
Ethics Committee Approval: The study was approved by the Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine Scientific Research Ethics Committee (No: 110, Date: 11/10/2019).
Financial Support: None declared.
Authorship contributions: Concept - Ö.A., A.Y.Z., E.C.; Design - Ö.A., A.Y.Z., E.C.; Supervision - Ö.A., E.C.; Funding - Ö.A., E.C.; Materials ? Ö.A., E.C.; Data collection and/ or processing - Ö.A., E.C., F.C., O.A., F.Z.; Data analysis and/or interpretation - Ö.A., E.C., L.S., E.H.,A.Y.; Literature search - Ö.A., E.C., A.Y.; Writing - Ö.A.; Critical review - Ö.A., E.C.