Treating Plantar Fasciitis by Surgery
Plantar fasciitis comes about when the plantar fascia is extended due to increased or excessive activity, deficient foot biomechanics or in combined with the normal aging process. The purpose of the plantar fascia is to act as a shock absorber and hold the arch of the foot. The ligament is generally overstretched time and again before any noticible pain starts. The pain is caused by recurring tiny tears occurring in the plantar fascia, normally at the point where it attaches to the heel bone.
It is rare for surgery to be required in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. More than 90% of patients fully recovery from symptoms of plantar fasciitis within 12 months of the beginning of treatment using non-invasive treatment methods. Only in the worst cases is surgery needed. Surgery should only be considered where everything else has failed. Only patients who have completed a well-structured non-invasive course of treatment for over 9 months should consider plantar fasciitis surgery. What Is More, before agreeing to a plantar fasciitis surgery, you must fully comprehend both the potential dangers and gains of surgery.
Surgery to cure plantar fasciitis isn’t as ‘predictable’ as a surgeon would like. For example, in the case of knee or hip replacement surgery, where its is common to see a 95% success rate. The success rate for surgery is not nearly so high. Foreseeable complications of plantar fasciitis surgery include:
Excessive release of the plantar fascia. The aim in plantar fasciitis surgery is to release about 30-50% of the ligament. Releasing more than this amount during plantar fasciitis surgery may cause a flat foot and a lowering of the arch of the foot. Any resulting flat foot after surgery for plantar fasciitis it can result in chronic problems that are regarded as equally bad as the original pain.
Foot nerve injury. Tiny nerves run along the sides of the plantar fascia ligament from the heel to the front of the foot. During plantar fascia surgery these nerves may be damaged resulting in irritation or loss of sensation in parts of the foot.
Persistent pain. Even if a patient displays plantar fasciitis symptoms, pain in the heel may not result from plantar fasciitis. Hence, even after successful surgery for plantar fasciitis, some people may have continued pain.
Infection. Infection is a possible complication after any surgery. If the patient does become infected following surgery, antibiotics may be required. Also, another surgery may be needed to remove any infection.
Even with the possible negative consequences with plantar fasciitis surgery, some 75 percent of people will experience successful surgery for plantar fasciitis and easing from their symptoms.
Modern surgery allow surgery to be carried out by tiny slits in the foot using a small tv camera to locate the plantar fascia and direct the incision in a technique called endoscopic plantar fascia release.
This operation is said by some surgeons to increase the danger of impairment to the small foot nerves. There is no sure answer as to whehter endoscopic plantar fascia release is preferable than a traditional plantar fascia release, most surgeons continue to carry out the traditional approach.
Tags: foot biomechanics, hip replacement surgery, Plantar Fasciitis, plantar fascia, Plantar, treatingRelated posts: