Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2021, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (11): 1670-1674.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.3040

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Ultrasound-guided injection of hyaluronic acid and corticosteroid for treating plantar fasciitis: evaluation of pain, fascia thickness and ankle-foot function

Zhang Yicen1, Wang Peixin2, Liu Zhicheng3    

  1. 1Department of Cardiac Ultrasound, 2First Department of General Surgery, 3Department of Sports Medicine, East Branch of Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China
  • Received:2020-03-28 Revised:2020-04-02 Accepted:2020-05-09 Online:2021-04-18 Published:2020-12-21
  • Contact: Liu Zhicheng, Master, Physician, Department of Sports Medicine, East Branch of Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China
  • About author:Zhang Yicen, Master, Physician, Department of Cardiac Ultrasound, East Branch of Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao 266000, Shandong Province, China

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Sodium hyaluronate injection has been used in many musculoskeletal diseases, including knee osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder, rheumatoid arthritis, and other tendon and soft tissue pain.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of sodium hyaluronate injection and corticosteroid injection in reducing the symptoms of plantar fasciitis.
METHODS: Sixty-five patients with plantar fasciitis were randomly divided into two groups: sodium hyaluronate group (32 cases) and corticosteroid group (33 cases). Two groups of patients were injected with 2.5 mL of sodium hyaluronate (25 mg/2.5 mL) and compound betamethasone (5 mg of diprosone and 2 mg of betamethasone sodium phosphate) under the guidance of ultrasound, respectively. The treatment interval was 7 days, twice in total. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, plantar fascia thickness and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score were measured before treatment, 1 month and 3 months after treatment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 1 month after treatment, compared with the baseline data, the VAS and plantar fascia thickness of the two groups decreased, and the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score increased (P < 0.05). Moreover, the VAS score of the corticosteroid group was significantly lower than that of the sodium hyaluronate group (P < 0.05). At 3 months after treatment, compared with the data at 1 month after treatment, the treatment effect was significantly improved in both two groups (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). To conclude, corticosteroids and sodium hyaluronate are both effective to treat plantar fasciitis, but the effect of corticosteroids is better within 1 month. To avoid the potential risk of corticosteroids, sodium hyaluronate can be a substitute of corticosteroids.


Key words: foot, fasciitis, plantar fasciitis, hyaluronic acid, corticosteroid, plantar fascia thickness, pain, ankle function

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