Endoscopic plantar fascia release via dual medial deep fascia approach for refractory plantar fasciitis: an effective, safe, and rapid surgical approach.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of endoscopic plantar fascia release through the modified dual medial deep fascia approach for the treatment of refractory plantar fasciitis.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 34 patients with refractory plantar fasciitis treated by endoscopic plantar fascia release through the modified dual medial deep fascia approach. Among them, 25 patients had concurrent calcaneal spurs. All patients were followed for a minimum of 12 months. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, while structural evaluations included the Medial Longitudinal Arch Angle (MLAA), navicular tuberosity height-to-foot length ratio (NH/FL), and the Arch Index (AI). Differences between patients with and without calcaneal spurs were also analyzed.

Results: All patients completed at least 12 months of follow-up, with primary wound healing in all cases. Two patients experienced transient plantar skin numbness and small toe abduction difficulty, which resolved within three months. The VAS score decreased significantly from 6.53 ± 1.19 preoperatively to 1.18 ± 0.76 postoperatively, and the AOFAS score improved from 52.41 ± 5.23 to 93.29 ± 3.91 (both P < 0.05), indicating statistical significance. However, changes in the MLAA, NH/FL and AI were not statistically significant. Apart from age differences (49.04 ± 4.41 vs. 34.56 ± 3.13), no significant differences in other scores were observed between the calcaneal spur group and the non-calcaneal spur group at the final follow-up. Moreover, compared to the methods reported in other studies, our study demonstrated a shorter operative time and superior pain and functional outcomes.

Conclusion: The dual medial deep fascia approach for endoscopic plantar fascia release is a safe, quick, effective, and minimally invasive technique that yields favourable clinical outcomes. It has certain advantages compared to other techniques. The presence of calcaneal spurs does not impact postoperative outcomes.