Added value of shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis
Abstract Background Plantar fasciitis is the leading cause of heel pain among patients seeking care in outpatient clinics, accounting for approximately one million healthcare consultations annually in the United States. An estimated 10% of the general population are affected by plantar fasciitis at...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2025-07-01
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| Series: | The Egyptian Journal of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43055-025-01523-z |
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| Summary: | Abstract Background Plantar fasciitis is the leading cause of heel pain among patients seeking care in outpatient clinics, accounting for approximately one million healthcare consultations annually in the United States. An estimated 10% of the general population are affected by plantar fasciitis at some point in their lives. It also accounts for 10% of sport related injuries experienced by athletes. Beyond its high prevalence, which reflects its widespread nature and public health impact, plantar fasciitis also leads to functional limitations and reduced quality of life, placing a substantial burden on individuals and the healthcare system alike. These factors highlight the dire need for an effective time-efficient diagnostic tool that facilitates a rapid diagnosis and recovery. Aim of the work To assess the added value of shear wave elastography in the diagnostic evaluation of plantar fasciitis, which could confirm the diagnosis and reduce other unnecessary investigations. Results Previous studies were done measuring either plantar fascia thickness, shear wave elastography (SWE) or shear wave velocity (SWV). In our study, we measured the three categories for the cases and controls and correlated between them. Our study showed that around 53.33% of the cases had surrounding subcutaneous tissue edema, while none of the controls had subcutaneous tissue edema. Furthermore, patients with plantar fasciitis have statistically significant increase in plantar fascia thickness than the control group. Our study revealed that plantar fasciitis patients have statistically significant lower average SWV values of 2.89 ± 0.6 m/s and SWE values of 26.06 ± 10.59 kPa compared to the healthy subjects with average SWV values of 7.18 ± 0.43 m/s and SWE values of 155.72 ± 17.9 kPa (p value < 0.001). Our reported cut off value for SWV to diagnose plantar fasciitis is ≤ 3.86 m/s and for SW stiffness is ≤ 44.7 kPa. Our study reported a strong negative correlation between plantar fascia thickness and shear wave velocity and elastography. Conclusion Patients with plantar fasciitis have significantly thicker and softer plantar fascia as manifested by less shear wave velocity, elasticity and stiffness compared to the healthy control group. |
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| ISSN: | 2090-4762 |