Sonographic Evaluation of the Plantar Fascia in Asymptomatic Subjects

Authors

  • Dr N. Gadalla M.D., Department of Radiology, UZ Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Jette, Belgium
  • M. Kichouh Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
  • C. Boulet Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
  • F. Machiels Clinique du Parc Léopold, Brussels, Belgium
  • J. De Mey Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
  • M. De Maeseneer Department of Radiology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5334/jbr-btr.1326

Keywords:

Foot, US

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the appearance of the plantar fascia in asymptomatic subjects.

Materials and methods: Thirty-one asymptomatic subjects were examined by 2 musculoskeletal radiologists. The plantar fascia was evaluated for thickness, echogenicity, vascularity on power Doppler, rupture, fluid adjacent to the fascia, and calcifications.

Results: The study included 14 men and 17 women (age, 17-79 years; mean, 45 years). The mean thickness of the plantar fascia in men was 3.7 mm (range 2.5-7 mm), and in women 3.5 mm (range, 1.7-5.1 mm). The thickness was greater than 4 mm in 4 men (bilateral in 2). The mean thickness of fascias thicker than 4 mm in men was 5.4 mm (range, 4.3-7 mm). The thickness was greater than 4 mm in 5 women ( bilateral in 4). The mean thickness of fascias thicker than 4 mm in women was 4.7 mm (range, 4.2-5.1 mm). There was no statistically significant difference between men and women and between both heels. Hypoechogenicity was observed in 3 men (bilateral in 2), and in 5 women (bilateral in 6). Hypervascularity, rupture, fluid adjacent to the fascia, and calcifications were not observed.

Conclusion: A thickness greater than 4 mm and hypoechogenicity, are common in the plantar fascia of asymptomatic subjects. Findings that were not seen in asymptomatic subjects include a thickness greater than 7 mm, hypervascularity on power Doppler, rupture, fluid adjacent to the fascia, and calcifications.

Downloads

Published

2014-09-01

Issue

Vol. 97 No. 5 (2014)

Section

Original Article

License

Copyright (c) 2014 The Author(s)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms. If a submission is rejected or withdrawn prior to publication, all rights return to the author(s):

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).

Submitting to the journal implicitly confirms that all named authors and rights holders have agreed to the above terms of publication. It is the submitting author's responsibility to ensure all authors and relevant institutional bodies have given their agreement at the point of submission.

Note: some institutions require authors to seek written approval in relation to the terms of publication. Should this be required, authors can request a separate licence agreement document from the editorial team (e.g. authors who are Crown employees).