Outcome Evaluation of Endoscopic Plantar Fascia Release for Plantar Fasciitis in Vietnam

Abstract

Plantar fasciitis is one of the major causes of heel pain, with or without consequences of calcaneal spurs. Most patients respond to conservative therapy, but the remaining 5 to 10% fail and convert into surgical treatment. Endoscopic orthopedic surgery is gaining popularity; however, we have first performed endoscopic plantar fascia release (EPFR) in Vietnam and described the outcome results of EPFR in the medical setting of Vietnam in order to evaluate its short-term outcome. A prospective study was conducted from October 2017 to December 2019 at the Orthopedic Trauma Institute, Vietnam-Germany University Hospital in patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, who underwent over 6 months of conservative treatment showing no improvement. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Scale was used for evaluation. 20 patients undergoing EPFR were included. EPFR provides a new approach in surgical treatment of plantar fasciitis, from our initial results, enabling the surgeons to obtain good visualization and widen the surgery space while limiting complication risks, showing potential outcomes to perform widely in the medical setting of Vietnam. There is a need for larger sample size research, longer follow-up period and more high-quality level clinical trials with validated outcome measures in the nearby futures.