Plantar Fasiitte Topuk Fat Pad Elastikiyetinin ve Kalınlığının Ultrason ile Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the thickness and elasticity of the heel fat pad in patients with unilateral plantar fasciitis and to investigate the effects of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and functional scores on plantas fasciitis. Material and Methods: A total of 70 patients who had been suffering from unilateral plantar fasciitis for longer than 6 months were enrolled in the study. The thickness and elasticity of the fat pad were compared between the painful and healthy feet of the patients with ultrasound. For measurement of elasticity, shear wave elastography (SWE) was used. Functioanl evaluation was performed with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS). The thickness and elasticity variables were compared between the painful and healthy side groups using the independent samples t-test and Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Mean age of the patients was 44±11.66. The average thickness of the heel fat pad was 17.9±3.1 mm on the affected side and 18.3±3.3 mm on the healthy side. The mean SWE value of the painful side was 23.9 m/s (range 9.3-32) and was 24.7 m/s (range 10.8-34) on the healthy side. The average AOFAS score of the patients was 70 (range 62-78). Heel fat pad thickness was greater in the healthy feet than in the painful feet, but there was no statistical significance (p=0.448). The painful feet were stiffer, but the difference was statistically similar (p=0.347). The elasticity and thickness values between the painful and healthy feet were not affected by sex. BMI had a statistically significant impact on heel fat pad thickness between the painful and healthy feet. Conclusion: The results showed that a decrease in the thickness of the heel fat pad was a supporting finding of plantar fasciitis in patients with normal BMI but not in patients with BMI>25.