The Relationship Between the Clinical Findings and Ultrasonographic Findings of Plantar Fasciitis

족저 근막염의 임상 소견과 초음파 소견의 연관성

Purpose: The goal of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the clinical findings and ultrasonographic findings of plantar fasciitis. Materials and Methods: Forty-nine symptomatic heels of 36 patients with plantar fasciitis and 21 asymptomatic heels were included. Twenty-three patients had unilateral lesions and 13 had bilateral lesions. Of these, 16 were men and 20 were women. The average age of the patients was 48.6 years. The plantar fascia thickness was measured at its insertion of the calcaneus. Qualitative parameters such as decreased echogenity, biconvexity, partial rupture and calcification of plantar fascia, and subcalcaneal spur on plain radiographs were also noted. Comparisons of ultrasonographic parameters between symptomatic heels and asymptomatic heels as well as between unilateral and bilateral groups were done. Results: There was no differences in the age, sex, body mass index, and duration of symptom between the unilateral and bilateral group. There were a statistically significant difference between the thickness of plantar fascia of unilateral group (mean 5.2 mm, SD1.5 mm) and that of bilateral group (mean 4.4 mm, SD 1.4 mm) (p=0.045). The hypoechogenity of plantar fascia and subcalcaneal spur did not differ between two groups. No fascial rupture or fascial calcification were identified. There was a statistically significant difference between the thickness of plantar fascia of symptomatic heels (mean 4.8 mm, SD1.5 mm) and that of asymptomatic heels (mean 3.1 mm, SD 0.5 mm) (p=0.000). The thickness of plantar fasia was negatively correlated with duration of symptoms (p=0.046). Conclusion: The thickness of plantar fascia in plantar fasciitis seems to be negatively correlated with the duration of symptoms, and the thickness of symptomatic heels and unilateral group was significantly thicker than that of asymptomatic heels and bilateral group, respectively.

목적: 저자들은 족저 근막염에 대한 초음파 소견과 임상적 변수들과의 연관성을 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 본원에서 2007년 10월부터 2008년 4월까지 이학적 검사 및 초음파 검사를 통해 족저 근막염으로 진단받은 36명 49발과 증상이 없는 21발을 대상으로 하였다. 병변은 23명이 편측, 13명이 양측이었다. 남자 16명, 여자 20명이었고, 평균나이는 48.6세였다. 편측군과 양측군, 환측과 건측의 족저 근막의 두께, 근막 내부의 에코성, 족저 근막 파열 유무, 석회화, 종골하 골극형성을 조사하여 비교하였다. 족저 근막 두께와 평균나이, 체질량 지수, 증상기간, 통증지수와의 상관관계를 조사하였다. 결과: 편측군과 양측군 사이에 나이, 성별, 체질량지수, 증상기간의 차이는 없었다. 족저 근막의 두께는 편측군이 $5.2{\pm}1.5mm$, 양측군이 $4.4{\pm}1.4mm$로 유의한 차이가 있었다(p=0.045). 양 군간 저에코 음영과 종골하 골극의 빈도는 차이가 없었다. 전례에서 근막 파열이나 석회화는 없었다. 환측 족저 근막의 두께는 $4.8{\pm}1.5mm$로 건측의 $3.1{\pm}0.5mm$에 비해 두꺼웠다(p=0.000). 족저 근막의 두께는 증상기간과 음의 상관관계가 있었다(p=0.046). 결론: 족저 근막염에 대한 초음파 검사상 근막의 두께가 반대쪽보다 유의하게 두꺼웠고 편측군이 양측군보다 유의하게 두꺼웠으며 증상기간과 족저 근막의 두께는 반비례 관계를 보였다.