AIM: The conservative and operative treatments of plantar fasciitis tend to be tedious. Unsatisfactory results are common in chronic cases. This study was performed in order to test the hypothesis that the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of a single injection of Botulinum toxin A (BoNT A) induces a significant reduction of symptoms. METHOD: 25 patients were included and followed-up for 14 weeks. Prior to injection, all of them had undergone at least two trials of conservative treatment. To determine the optimal treatment dose, 6 patients were injected subfascially with 100 units BoNT A (Dysport), another 6 with 200 units BoNT A. As result of this pre-trial, another 13 patients were treated with the higher dose. The patients documented maximum pain and continuous pain on a visual analogue scale. The strength of the lower leg and foot muscles was clinically assessed. RESULTS: A significant reduction of maximum and continuous pain was seen 2 weeks after injection in the group of 19 patients treated with 200 units BoNT A and persisted until the end of the follow-up. Adverse effects such as weakness of the muscles or systemic reactions have not been observed. CONCLUSION: This pilot study shows the efficacy of a single application of 200 units BoNT A as a treatment option for chronic plantar fasciitis.
AIM: The conservative and operative treatments of plantar fasciitis tend to be tedious. Unsatisfactory results are common in chronic cases. This study was performed in order to test the hypothesis that the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of a single injection of Botulinum toxin A (BoNT A) induces a significant reduction of symptoms. METHOD: 25 patients were included and followed-up for 14 weeks. Prior to injection, all of them had undergone at least two trials of conservative treatment. To determine the optimal treatment dose, 6 patients were injected subfascially with 100 units BoNT A (Dysport), another 6 with 200 units BoNT A. As result of this pre-trial, another 13 patients were treated with the higher dose. The patients documented maximum pain and continuous pain on a visual analogue scale. The strength of the lower leg and foot muscles was clinically assessed. RESULTS: A significant reduction of maximum and continuous pain was seen 2 weeks after injection in the group of 19 patients treated with 200 units BoNT A and persisted until the end of the follow-up. Adverse effects such as weakness of the muscles or systemic reactions have not been observed. CONCLUSION: This pilot study shows the efficacy of a single application of 200 units BoNT A as a treatment option for chronic plantar fasciitis.