Haseeb Rehman, Farhan Ahmed, Sanobar Bughio, Muhammad Ali, Hina Pathan, Rafay Gul, Mehreen Ghafoor Chaudhri.
Frequency of normal plantar fascia thickness in the population of Pakistan by ultrasonography.
Pak J Radiol Jan ;33(1):09-14.

Objectives: To assess the frequency of normal plantar fascia thickness in the population of Pakistan by ultrasonography. Materials & Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in the ultrasound department of Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Clifton campus, Karachi from 06-02-2022 to 06-08-2022 for a period of six months. A total of 177 healthy individuals presenting with heel pain (VAS >3) for the first time, 18 to 70 years of age of both genders, were included. Patients having chronic or acute heel pain, morning heel stiffness and a history of surgical intervention of foot or trauma were excluded. Using ahigh-frequency transducer of a Toshiba ultrasound machine, the thickness of the plantar fascia was measured at the point 0.5cm distal to its origin from the calcaneal tuberosity, by placing the transducer over the plantar aspect of the heel just medial to midline presence or absence of normal plantar fascia thickness was noted. Results: Total 177 of participants included. The age range in our study was from 18 to 70 years with a mean age of 42.33 +- 8.58 years. The majority of the patients 113 (63.84%) were between 18 to 45 years of age. Out of 177 patients, 98 (55.37%) were male and 79 (44.63%) were females with male to female ratio of 1.3:1. In our study, frequency of normal plantar fascia thickness in the local population by ultrasonography was found in 160 (90.40%) patients. The mean plantar fascia thickness was 2.68 +- 1.05 mm. Conclusion: This study concluded that the frequency of normal plantar fascia thickness in the population of Pakistan by ultrasonography was found in 90.40% of patients.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com