Abdul Basit, Tahseen Riaz, Ziaullah Bajwa, Ghulam Murtaza Cheema.
Outcome of conservative approach with or without steroid injection for treatment of plantar fasciitis.
J Pak Orthop Assoc Jan ;24(2):121-5.

Objective : To compare the frequency of remission in symptoms in patients with Plantar Fasciitis treated with conservative approach with and without local steroid injection. Study Design: Randomized Controlled trial Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Out Patient Department of Orthopaedic Surgery unit II, Jinnah Hospital Lahore from February 10 2012 to May 14 2012. Subject And Methods: A total number of 70 patients diagnosed as having plantar fasciitis were included in this study. They were divided randomly into two groups of equal number through lottery method. Group A (35 patients) was managed with conservative approach i.e. NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti inflammatory Drugs) which was tab. Dicloran 50mg twice a day up to 6th week, cushioned heel pads while walking up to 6th week and stretching exercises, as every patient of each group attended ten sessions of physiotherapy. Group B (35 patients) was managed with local steroid injection (40 mg/ml Methyl prednisolone acetate injection with 2 % Injection Lignocaine) along with conservative approach. Remission in symptoms assessed according to Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The VAS was used to describe the heel pain on weight bearing. The range of VAS of zero, 1 to 4, 5 to 7 and 8 to10 was considered as remission, mild, moderate and severe pain respectively. The follow up visits were on 1st, 3rd and 6th week after the treatment. Other variables in severity of pain (mild, moderate and severe) were used in patients who did not achieve remission. Results: In Group A, out of 35 patients, 16 patients had remission in symptoms after treatment. However, in Group B, 29 out of 35 patients were relieved after treatment. Conclusion: There are more chances of remission in symptoms in plantar fasciitis with steroid injection along with conservative approach as compared to conservative approach alone.

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