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Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Background/aim: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common cause of heel pain and may lead to functional impairment and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to compare the short- and medium-term clinical outcomes of corticosteroid injection (CSI) alone versus combined radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and CSI in patients with PF refractory to conservative treatment.

Materials and methods: This single-center retrospective comparative study included patients diagnosed with PF between 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2025. Patients who underwent either CSI alone or combined RFA and CSI after failure of conservative management were included. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline, 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months. Global perceived effect (GPE) scores were evaluated at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months.

Results: Both treatment groups demonstrated significant improvements in VAS scores at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months compared to baseline (p < 0.001 for all). Baseline and 1-week VAS scores were comparable between the groups (p > 0.05). However, median VAS scores at 3 and 6 months were significantly lower in the group receiving combined RFA and CSI compared to CSI alone (p < 0.001). GPE scores at 1 week did not differ significantly (p = 0.100), but at 3 and 6 months, they were significantly higher in the combined group (p < 0.001). In adjusted longitudinal analysis, the group receiving combined RFA and CSI had lower overall VAS scores over time, with significant group × time interactions at 3 and 6 months.

Conclusion: Both CSI alone and combined RFA and CSI provide significant short- and medium-term pain relief. However, the addition of RFA to CSI is associated with superior midterm pain control and greater patient-reported clinical improvement.

Author ORCID Identifier

NEVCİHAN ŞAHUTOĞLU BAL: 0000-0002-8056-4177

EMEL BAŞAR: 0000-0003-0992-9767

HATİCE BABAOĞLAN: 0000-0001-7227-8317

ÜLKÜ SABUNCU: 0000-0002-9031-2088

MUSTAFA CEM YILMAZ: 0000-0003-1077-3544

ŞÜKRİYE DADALI: 0000-0003-4204-4530

ERKAN YAVUZ AKÇABOY: 0000-0002-9962-2090

DOI

10.55730/1300-0144.6350

Keywords

Corticosteroid injection, heel pain, pain measurement, plantar fasciitis, radiofrequency ablation, treatment outcome

First Page

1065

Last Page

1073

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

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

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