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What You Need to Know About Surgery for Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fascia release is an invasive procedure that should only be considered in very severe cases that can not be resolved with conservative treatments.
Severe or advanced cases of plantar fasciitis only rarely require surgical treatment. Some of the conditions where surgical intervention may become inevitable include the following:
- when an injury is left untreated
- in the minority of cases for which conservative treatment or regenerative medicine treatments are ineffective and damage accumulates
- when injuries in the plantar fascia have progressed to a point where there is an accumulation of tension in the ligament that causes its gradual degeneration.
The surgical procedure for plantar fasciitis is called Plantar Fascia Release. As its name suggests, the main goal of Plantar Fascia Release surgery is to release the tension on the plantar fascia. The goal is to restore the foot’s flexibility and relieve pain.
Plantar fasciitis surgical procedures
The procedure for Plantar Fascia Release involves making small cuts in a fraction of the fibers that make up the plantar fascia. This is done in order to relieve tension and stress in the ligament.
Plantar Fascia Release can be performed via either open surgery or endoscopic surgery:
- In open surgery, a small area in the bottom of the foot is cut to give access to the plantar fascia to allow your surgeon to see it.
- In endoscopic surgery, only very small incisions are made to insert an instrument equipped with a micro camera that allows the visualization of the ligament and the release of the plantar fascia.
Endoscopic surgery is usually preferred due to the shorter recovery time, but the choice of open or endoscopic surgery may depend on your anatomical and clinical characteristics.
In some advanced cases of plantar fasciitis, heel spurs may develop. When that is the case, they can also be removed during the surgery. When necessary, damaged tissues or a small portion of the heel bone may also be removed to reduce tension and…
